Sunil Chhetri scored the only goal of the match in the 69th minute.
India beat Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier in Bengaluru on Tuesday. There was very little separating the two teams at the half-way mark as the scoreline remained locked at 0-0. Kyrgyzstan enjoyed most of the possession but were unable to create enough chances. In the second half, India created a brilliant opportunity when Sunil Chhetri ran through the opposition’s midfield to set-up an excellent goal for India. Jeje was alert enough to collect the ball cleanly and feed it back to his skipper who completed the finish. With this result, India are top of Group A with two wins in their two matches.
India vs Kyrgyzstan: AS IT HAPPENED
90+4′: Robin Singh goes one-on-one with the goalie but hits it way over the crossbar. Could have easily been 2-0 here, poor finish by Robin. Minute after Robin’s miss, Chhetri went had a good chance at goal but the striker missed the target. Frustrating finishing by India today
87′: Nearing the full-time whistle now. Pressure will be on both teams at stage. India would look to defend the lead while Kyrgyzstan would press forward in search of the equaliser
80′: Robin Singh, who was warming up on the sidelines, finally gets play time as he replaces Jeje. Excellent game for Jeje as he set-up the opening goal for India in the 69th minute
75′: 15 minutes left in the contest now. India now need to ensure they don’t concede any goal in the period. One more goal from they will give them insurance in the final period of play
74′: India make a substitution as Jackie makes way for Bikash Jairu
73′: The crowd gets going after Chhetri’s goal. They are behind the hosts and it’s very noisy in the middle at the moment
69′: Excellent ball by Jeje and Sunil Chhetri with a clinical finish to put India ahead in the contest. Chhetri has now scored in three consecutive games against the same opposition
54′: The two teams continue to trade possession in the second half. A goal looks like around the corner. Positive play by both teams
HALF TIME: India had the better of the chances in the first 45 minutes. Jeje and Jackichand came close with Chhetri involved in both chances but neither were buried. Late on, Kyrgyzstan had a key chance but it was fluffed away
45+3′ SAVED! Gurpreet with a superb save to deny a Kyrgyzstan player. Farkhat got the shot on after a neat through ball but the Indian goalkeeper spread himself well to ward off the danger
44′ Two half chances for Kyrgyzstan. Both could have been converted had the strikers been up to the task. Near cut back from the left with the Indian defence not picking things up and the fluffed effort comes to nothing.
40′ Lacklustre by the Kyrgyzstan attack. Losing the ball near the Indian defensive box with a stray pass. Need to do better if they are to get something here
33′ Jeje goes close once again. Chhetri takes a quick throw and releases Jeje through but Pavel is equal to save it. Really good chance for India to go ahead but the shot needs to have been angled better.
30′: Ordinary, very ordinary, by Jeje. He gets a brilliant ball right in front of goal but wastes the crucial seconds in turning around it. The defender makes most of the window to deal with the danger
26′: Another excellent ball forward by India but the finishing hasn’t been upto the mark yet. Narzary tries one from an acute angle and fails to beat the goalie who comfortably dealt with the attempt
25′: Corner no.4 for Kyrgyzstan, and a poor one. They are yet to convert any one them. Scoreline remains 0-0 in the first half
23′: Jackie fed with an excellent long ball, the striker cuts into the area but his low ground cross is safely dealt with by the Kyrgyzstan defender. India need to be better with the delivery, could have been the opening goal
23′: Kyrgyzstan enjoy possession in the first half so far but India have pulled things back
17′: Kyrgyzstan have been busy in the first half as they continue to press forward in search of the opening goal. They have won three corners as compared to India’s 0. Meanwhile, Jackie makes a decent run down the right flank but there are no takers for his cross
14′: CHANCE! Mirlan, the captain, gets a decent ball just outside the area and does well to go past two Indian defenders. He gets decent room for the shoot and fires one low towards Gurpreet’s right. The Indian goalie does well to get down in time and deflect the danger away
12′: Quick fact – India have scored in their last eight appearances and the last time they didn’t score in a football match was 446 days ago, against Iran
10′: Early free-kick for Kyrgyzstan, a ball curled into the area but the Indian defenders do well to clear the danger away
8′: Early substitution by Kyrgyzstan as Edgar comes in for Anton in the eighth minute of the contest
6′: The collision could have been dangerous for India too as Gurpreet left his mark without clearing the ball neatly. Risky move early in the contest by the Indian goalie
3′: This could have been dangerous. Kyrgyzstan with a searching ball forward, Indian goalie Gurpreet leaves his position to go after the ball, which has being chased Anton, and crashed right into the sprinting forward. Ugly collision and he is on the ground, receiving treatment from the team physio. And, Anton leaves the field on the stretcher
# Anas’ father is not well but he chose to turn out for national duty. Top commitment by the defender
# Last-minute touch-ups before the teams start trading possession
# The two teams are out in the middle. We are moments away from kick-off. The match officials also make their way out for the international fixture. After the West block, it’s the East block which is slowly getting packed
# There are plenty of empty stands but the West block is slowly getting filled. Decent support expected for the hosts in the crucial contest
# Sunil Chhetri is back in the starting XI for India. No Robin Singh as he starts on the bench
# India’s team sheet is out. Here’s a look at who is starting for them – Gurpreet, Pritam, Jhingan, Anas, Narayan, Jackichand, Lyngdoh, Rowllin, Narzary, Chhetri, Jeje
# India are back to full strength after key players missed the 2-0 win over Nepal in the international friendly. In the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, both India and Kyrgyzstan won their opening fixtures and currently tied at the top spot of the group