India force 1-1 draw against Singapore in AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers

India battled to a 1-1 draw against Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Rahim Ali scored a last-minute equalizer after Ikhsan Fandi gave Singapore the lead. Despite playing with 10 men for most of the match, India earned a vital point

Hyderabad: In a dramatic encounter filled with grit and late heroics, 10-man India forced a 1-1 draw against hosts Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C match at the National Stadium, Singapore, on Thursday.

Rahim Ali emerged as the hero, scoring his first-ever goal for India with a 90th-minute equalizer, after Ikhsan Fandi had handed Singapore the lead in first-half stoppage time.

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India were forced to play nearly the entire second half with a man down after Sandesh Jhingan was sent off in the 47th minute. Despite struggling for possession and momentum, India found a way to snatch a vital point in the dying moments, thanks to their opportunism, patience, and a blunder from Singapore.

The 1-1 draw places India in third place in Group C, with two points from three matches. Bangladesh are scheduled to host Hong Kong later in the day. Halfway through the qualifiers, India’s fate now depends not only on winning all remaining games but also on favourable results from other fixtures. India will face Singapore again on October 14 in Goa on the fourth matchday.

The Blue Tigers started brightly, pressing Singapore’s backline with early intent. Their first real opportunity came in the 15th minute when Liston Colaco delivered a free-kick into the box, only for Rahul Bheke to glance his header wide of the post. Despite this early burst, India soon began to falter.

Singapore grew into the game and asserted control, enjoying 63% possession and dictating the tempo. India’s attempts to keep pace faded as their midfield began to retreat deeper. Head coach Khalid Jamil’s defensive setup forced India to sit back, soaking up pressure and hoping for a counter-attack.

The breakthrough for the hosts came in first-half stoppage time. Singapore captain Hariss Harun launched a precise long ball from deep midfield. Winger Shawal Anuar, showing blistering pace, outmuscled Muhammed Uvais, controlled the ball with a deft first touch, and unselfishly squared it to Ikhsan Fandi, who slotted it past India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and into the empty net. Singapore went into the break 1-0 up, buoyed by a slick move and a clinical finish.

Things worsened for India as Sandesh Jhingan was dismissed in the 47th minute after receiving a second yellow card for blocking Fandi with a raised arm. Down to ten men, India’s attacking ambitions took a backseat as survival became the priority.

India carved out a rare chance in the 62nd minute. Colaco dribbled into the box and saw his shot blocked. The rebound fell to Nikhil Prabhu, whose volley lacked venom and was easily gathered by Izwan Mahbud in the Singapore goal.

The hosts could have sealed the game in the 73rd minute when Fandi broke free on the left. But Sandhu, showing his experience, rushed off his line and pulled off a brave save to keep India in the match.

With Singapore looking to wind down the clock and India running out of ideas, coach Khalid Jamil made his final substitutions in a desperate bid for an equalizer. That gamble paid off.

In the 90th minute, disaster struck for Singapore. Jordan Emaviwe attempted a back-pass to his goalkeeper. The ball lacked power and direction. Rahim Ali, alert and hungry, latched onto the loose ball as Mahbud scrambled to intercept. The Singapore keeper misjudged the weight of the pass, and the ball ricocheted kindly onto the foot of Ali, who slotted it into the unguarded net.