India vs China International Friendly: As It Happened

They rode their luck on many occasions, but in the end it's the result that matters. India will be happy with their performance here.

On the other end, China get a chance now. It's getting frantic here, but India hold on! The referee blows his whistle, and the match has ended 0-0. The Indian team has given a very good account of themselves here, and secured a draw against a much fancied opponent.

Corner for India after a one on one chance for Farrukh Choudhary! That was India's chance to win it! And the corner is cleared away by the Chinese defence. They have defended extremely well here, and could have gone on and won it.

India are minutes away from securing a big draw over here. Just about three minutes left.

Anirudh Thapa is coming off for Rowlin Borges here.

One of the many close calls that India had today.

Wu Lei rattles @IndianFootball team's crossbar with a thunderous volley.

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#CHNvIND #BackTheBlue #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/4zvTZEKJnI

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 13, 2018

Gurpreet employs all of his six foot five frame yet again to tip the ball over the frame. He has been massive in the match so far, and India deal with the subsequent corner.

Udanta Singh's chance from earlier in the match.

A counter attack by the @IndianFootball team results in a chance for Udanta Singh, who skies it.

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#CHNvIND #BackTheBlue #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/tgO6gLUOrM

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 13, 2018

About seven and a half minutes of regulation time are left here, and India are still in this. Midfielder Vinit Rai is being brought on for Pronay Haldar. Fresh legs needed in the midfield here for India. China have another corner, and his first involvement will be to mark his man efficiently in the box.

Farrukh Choudhary has come on the pitch here for Jeje Lalpekhlua.

What drama here! A melee in front of the goal after China's third consecutive corner ends up with Sunil Chhetri running the length of the pitch and earning India a corner at the other end. Everybody was flinging themselves at the ball and it somehow does not manage to go in. How have India escaped here? It just seems like one of those days for China.

What a save by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu! A free header sailing into the top corner is tipped over the bar. He couldn't be more at full-stretch there.

Wu Lei makes a surging run trying to get on to a through ball between the two Indian centre-backs. Anad Edathodika does well to clear it in time.

China come close to scoring yet again! India have survived for the second time courtesy the crossbar. Wu Lei seemed to have connected extremely well with a cushioned header that was played back to him across the box, but he can only hit the crossbar.

Nikhil Poojary is also on the pitch now, for Udanta Singh who was tireless throughout the first half and for the duration of the second.

Anas Edathodika, who didn't start the game today is now coming on to the pitch, being replaced by Narayan Das. Subhasish Bose is expected to now go to left back.

Gao Lin's first touch fails him massively and the ball rolls out for a goal-kick, as he punches the air in frustration after he tried to control a long ball over the Indian defence.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is decisive with a Chinese cross and he comes out to claim the ball. Immediately, he looks for the early release to Udanta and Chhetri but it finds the head of a Chinese centre-back.

Captain @SandeshJhingan smoothly clears off the ball.#CHNvIND #AsianDream #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue #WeAreIndia pic.twitter.com/VjVn7hXMQA

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2018

CHANCE FOR INDIA! Udanta Singh finds himself with time and space on the right and he unleashes a shot which goes sailing over the bar. That's the third great chance that India have had in the match. 

The striker could have had the 21st international goal of his career, and China get another good chance. Gurpreet does enough to put the striker off, and the ball goes for a corner which is cleared by the Indian defence. The tough spell for the Indian defence continues, and Gao Lin goes in for a diving header which skims over the bar.

CHINA ALMOST IN FRONT! Gurpreet's goalpost shudders with the strike of the ball as another cross found the chinese forward with acres of space inside the box. Gao Lin unleashes a shot but it only hits the post. Lucky escape for India.

There seem to have been some strong words said at half-time from Marcelo Lippi. It is in India's best interests to let the scoreline remain 0-0 for as long as possible, and China know that. The goal needs to come soon for the hosts, but it won't be easy with a resolute Indian defence so far as Subhasish Bose clears a low cross from the right flank.

China have started the second half brightly. Two early chances present themselves, the first one thanks to left back Narayan Das misreading the aerial ball from the right flank and the second a long range effort.

The second half has started here at the Shinzhou Sports Olympic Centre.

🇮🇳0-0🇨🇳
All square at the break as the two most populous nations on the planet face off in a friendly for the very first time! https://t.co/IV626jBx4x

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) October 13, 2018

45' At half time, China and @IndianFootball would be disappointed as they've been unable to score from opportunities created to give their team the lead. Both teams showed intent, but lacked finishing.

CHN 0 – 0 IND#CHNvIND #AsianDream #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue #WeAreIndia pic.twitter.com/Uw0c1iMcj3

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2018

And that's half-time here. Marcelo Lippi will not be happy with his side's performance here. 0-0 as both teams go into the break. India will no doubt be the happier of the two sides. The more they stay in the game, the more they have a chance to take something away from the match.

It's going to be an important couple of minutes for India as half-time is just two minutes away now. They need to make sure they don't concede any goals before the break, so they can continue with the same strategy in the second half.

Lucky for Sandesh Jhingan earlier in the 11th minute, eh?

.@SandeshJhingan dashes in to intercept a dangerous cross and gets lucky with his touch.

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#CHNvIND #BackTheBlue #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/BMtx4NXXaG

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 13, 2018