India vs Bahrain, AFC Asian Cup 2019: India Exit Tournament

Full-time and the score is Bahrain 1-0 India. The Blue Tigers had started their tournament so well but then went on to lose two consecutive games. 

Goal. Bahrain's Jamal Rashed converts the spot kick and India have one foot out the door of the tournament. 

Oh dear. Skipper Pronay Halder makes a careless tackle inside the box and the referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Penalty to Bahrain. 

Bahrain are inching closer to scoring. That's one of the issues with this approach of looking to simply soak up the pressure; the pressure can just as easily build and a goal can be conceded. 

India's attacks have been limited to mostly counters while it is Bahrain who have had most of the ball. India won't mind that as long as they don't concede or Thailand don't score. 

There are a little over 10 minutes left and both games remain level. As things stand it is India that will qualify automatically for the next round. 

Bahrain keep coming closer and closer to scoring and they had an indirect free-kick inside the box that went out for a corner. 

Tense moments for the India defence as Bahrain managed to hit the bar after some scrambling inside the penalty area. Conceding a goal now for either side would be a death knell. 

Oh dear, Chhetri. The skipper went for the shot after some deliberation but his shot went high and not so mighty, meaning the game still remains goalless. 

Free-kick in a dangerous position for India after Udanta Singh set off on a massive run was chopped down in the final third. This could be exactly what the doctor ordered for India. 

The hour mark has been crossed and the scoreline still remains 0-0. India seem content to sit back and defend, but going for a goal sooner or later just to make that second spot more secure would be nice. 

Indian fans in the stadium have switched on the torches behind their phones and are lighting up the stadium. Meanwhile, both teams have made changes in an attempt to get a goal. 

The initial moments of the second half are reminiscent of the first: both teams attacking when they can but Bahrain look likelier to score. India have quite the task at hand, 

The second half is underway. India are set for qualification if the scoreline of both matches remains the same but one goal against them suddenly puts qualification out of their hands. 

It's worth noting that as things stand, India will go through to the next round in second place since the match between Thailand and UAE is 1-1. Both India and Thailand will have the same number of points but India's goal difference is superior. 

It's half-time and the match is goalless. Bahrain were the slightly better side of the two but India will fancy their chances going into the second half. 

The end of the half is approaching and neither side seems too bothered to try and force the issue at this point. Both look content with taking this scoreline into the break.

The game is past the half hour mark and neither side has consistently managed to attack the other although Bahrain have looked the likelier side to score. At this rate, India would do well to go into the half-time break with the match goalless. 

India make their first meaningful attack in the match and Ashique on the left wing manages to get a ball to Chhetri who is in a dangerous position but a Bahrain defender clears the danger successfully. 

India are now slowly growing into the game but it has been largely about Bahrain thus far. India will need to do more to keep up with the pace set. 

Bahrain have started the match on the front foot. India are clearly still adjusting to the presence of Salam at the back instead of Anas and are yet to mount a decent attack. 

Anas Edathodika has been replaced by Salam Ranjan Singh after seemingly picking up a knock. Not quite the start India had in mind. Will be interesting to see how they cope with this. 

The referee blows his whistle and we are underway! Can India pull off the dream of making the knockouts? We shall find out in 90 minutes. 

The national anthems are done and kickoff is a mere five minutes away. 

Indian fans in fine voice. 

🇮🇳🙌🏽 💙#INDBAH #AsianDream #BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball

📸: AFC Media pic.twitter.com/5yozx2XWtS

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019

Historically, India have won just one match against Bahrain in seven matches played so far between the two countries. That win (2-0) had come in an international friendly in Bahrain in October, 1979 with striker Shabir Ali scoring both the goals. Bahrain have won on five occasions win while one match ended in a draw. 

Kick-off is now a little over 20 minutes away. This Indian football team has grown as a side in recent times but should they make the knockouts of the Asian Cup, they will be in unchartered territory. No Indian side has managed it thus far. 

Without Thapa - who is undoubtedly the most creative midfielder India have - it will be interesting to see just how India set up in midfield. One gets the feeling the forward line will have to work extra hard today. 

One change to the starting line-up: Rowlin Borges comes in for Anirudh Thapa. 

One change for the #BlueTigers 🇮🇳🐯 for the final group stage game against 🇧🇭#BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #IndianFootball #INDBAH pic.twitter.com/1TzBbut4Xn

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019

India may again deploy a defensive approach and hit on the counter against a physical Bahrain as they need just a draw while it is a must-win for the West Asian side as they are with just one point from two matches after their 0-1 loss to Thailand.