Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved a first-half penalty and Farukh Choudhary scored via a chip in the 53rd minute, as India played out an entertaining 1-1 draw against hosts Vietnam in Nam Dinh. Catch the highlights of the IND vs VIE match, right here
The one-off international friendly encounter will kick off at 4:30pm IST, and can be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. It will not be live telecast on any TV channel in India. The match will only be India's fifth face-off against Vietnam since 1976.
India (4-2-3-1): Gurpreet (GK); Asish Rai, Bheke, Anwar, Subhasish; Apuia, Suresh; Chhangte, Brandon, Roshan; Farukh
Vietnam (3-4-3): F. Nguyen (GK); Thanh Nguyen, N. Que, Hong Phong Nguyen; Chau Ngoc Quang, To Van Vu, Le Pham Thanh Long, H. Do Thang Ching Nguyen; Hoang Duc Nguyen, Van Toan Nguyen, Bui Vui Hao
And we are away. The action gets underway at the Thien Truong Stadium, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu gets an early sighter by way of a long-range attempt by the hosts. But it is nothing to worry the towering India custodian.
A promising corner kick from Lallianzuala Chhangte comes to nought, as it is well cleared by the Vietnamese goalie. Roshan had garnered the set piece for India via a purposeful run from the left flank.
Well, well. It's all happening in Nam Dinh. A challenge by Bheke just outside the box is deemed a foul by the referee, who awards a penalty to Vietnam. But Gurpreet saves the day, diving to his left to not only intercept the spot kick but also pouch the ball. Early trouble averted for India.
Gurpreet may have thwarted Vietnam's spot kick, but the hosts continue to plug away with inroads in the final third. The goal almost seems inevitable as the Indian defence is being put under constant pressure, and their midfield and forwards have not had the kind of possession they would have liked, so far.
A well-directed shot from Farukh Choudhary off a tight angle forces a diving save from the Vietnamese goalkeeper, and leads to a corner for India. But the set piece doesn't yield much for the visitors.
The floodgates open. Vietnam finally break past India's defence, and it is via a set piece. A corner and the resulting stray ball in the box was not cleared cleanly enough, and Quang drills in a piledriver that takes an Indian deflection past a hapless Gurpreet. The ball was plumb on the goalline, when Nguyen Hoang Duc slots it in to leave no doubt. Vietnam are ahead.
India try to cobble together some progressive moves in the dying moments of the first half, but none of them incisive enough to trouble the Vietnamese defence. The half-time whistle goes off, and India trail by a solitary goal when there could have been many more. Can they fight back from here? Find out after a short break.
Play is underway in the second half, and India create a genuine chance early doors. But yet again, the final touch goes missing and the lack of clinicality in the final third could prove costly for the Blue Tigers, who are enjoying a bit more possession now.
What a game Farukh Choudhary is having. After a number of enterprising runs and near misses, the Chennaiyin FC forward breathes life into the match and the Indian camp with a delightful chip over the charging Vietnamese goalie. Anwar Ali plays a superb long ball for Farukh, who gets rid off his marker and deftly lifts it from his left foot. The ball loops cinematically into the goal, and Farukh scores on his first international appearance in three years!
India are now calling the shots in the second half. The Blue Tigers have rattled the home team's defenders and are threatening to score again with successive runs. Meanwhile, India's goal-scorer Farukh is substituted for the fresher legs of Edmund.
Brandon Fernandes is substituted for Liston Colaco as Manolo Marquez's push for speed in front continues. Meanwhile, Gurpreet pulls out a blinder of a save to keep Vietnam at bay. The Indian goalkeeper sticks out his right hand in reflex action to a close-range shot and tips the ball over the bar. The scoreline stays at 1-1.
India are living dangerously in the final few minutes of regulation time. After Gurpreet's fabulous save, his defensive comrade Anwar Ali clears a strong shot on goal with a header. The breathtaking goal-line clearance somehow keeps India level as Vietnam continue to pile on the pressure.
Regulation time ends, and six minutes of injury time are added. Play getting more and more attritional now. One gets the feeling that India would be happy with a draw from here, though they would still be eyeing openings.
An absolutely dramatic end to this friendly. Vietnam get a freekick opportunity right at the edge of the box in the dying seconds of the game. The foul itself was contentious. Nevertheless, a low setpiece is cleared by the Indian defence, and the Blue Tigers hang on for dear life. An ultimately creditable draw for Manolo Marquez's men, who began erratically but gained rhythm in the second half to equalize via Farukh and threaten more goals. Gurpreet was a rock all through, starting with a penalty save in the first half and a reflex-action parrying of a goal-bound shot from the hosts.
As Lebanon withdrew from the tri-series last minute, this is it for India's tour of Vietnam. The Blue Tigers will next play hosts to Malaysia during the FIFA Window on November 19. The venue is not yet decided.