The Indian men's football team begin their AFC Asian Cup 2023 sojourn with a tough fixture against Australia at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Doha. The Blue Tigers had a successful 2023, wherein they won silverware and showed massive improvement in their playing quality against top teams. However, Australia offers a different proposition and Igor Stimac's boys will look to start off on a winning note in the tournament. The Indian football team, for the first time in the history of the competition, have qualified in back-to-back at the AFC Asian Cup. Follow all the live action from the AFC Asian Cup 2023 right here. (Streaming | Preview | Football News)
7:10 PM: Statistical Review
A fine defensive effort from the Blue Tigers counted for little in the end, as Australia scored twice in the second half to take all three points. India's focus will turn to Uzbekistan and Syria next, with the third place also in play for the knockouts.
The stats confirm Australia's dominance. The Socceroos finished with 71 per cent possession of the ball compared to India's 29. They took 28 shots at the Indian goal, finding the target with six. Two of those shots crept over the goalline in the most telling stat of the night.
India's only shot on target was a tame effort by Suresh Wangjam in the first half. They showed early promise in attack but remained locked in a low block for much too long to carve out any real opportunity.
7:00 PM: Full Time - IND 0-2 AUS
That's all folks, India go down fighting to Australia. They face Uzbekistan next, followed by Syria.
6:53 PM: Second Half, 90' - IND 0-2 AUS
The substitutes have won the game for Australia, especially Jordan Bos, who has been electric since coming on. The youngster goes close again in the dying embers of the game, only to narrowly miss the target with a shot across the box.
India are making two more changes here. Sunil Chhetri comes off to a loud cheer from the Indian fans in Qatar and is replaced by Vikram Pratap Singh. Meanwhile, Mahesh Singh has replaced Lallianzuala Chhangte.
Six minutes of time added on.
6:48 PM: Second Half, 85' - IND 0-2 AUS
Into the final five minutes and Gurpreet has prevented Bruno Fornaroli from putting Australia ahead by three with a strong stop from a free-kick. Later, Jordan Bos bursts into the box and cuts the ball across, but his attempt is intervened by a blue shirt and cleared to safety.
Meanwhile, Aiden O'Neill is on for the final five minutes in place of Keanu Baccus.
6:43 PM: Second Half, 80' - IND 0-2 AUS
Deepak Tangri's night is over. The midfielder is replaced by Anirudh Thapa for the final minutes of the match.
India's imperative has changed again. Unable to level things up in Al-Rayyan, the Blue Tigers must now ensure to leave with as low a hit on their goal difference as possible, given that it might come handy toward the latter stages.
6:38 PM: Second Half, 75' - IND 0-2 AUS
Both sides have made changes, meanwhile, with Australia sending on Bos and Bruno Fornaroli for Craig Goodwin and Mitchell Duke. India have brought on Akash Mishra and Liston Colaco for Subhasish Bose and Suresh Wangjam.
6:36 PM: Second Half, 73' - IND 0-2 AUS
Goal Australia! 2-0! This should be it for Australia; they go ahead by two, courtesy of substitute Jordan Bos, who had only entered the pitch mere seconds ago! The Socceroos work the ball out to the right, where Riley McGree dazzles and dances pas his markers before rolling the ball into Bos' path, who has the simplest of tap in at the back post.
6:33 PM: Second Half, 70' - IND 0-1 AUS
At least the crowd are in high spirits; they have got a Mexican Wave going on in the stands! India, too, are preparing to freshen things up, it seems, in an attempt to wrestle away a point from their opponents.
The game, meanwhile, is much more open now, with the distance between the Indian lines gradually increasing. There is clearly more of an impetus from Igor Stimac's side to go on the attack, but they need to hold more of the ball to build anything concrete.
6:28 PM: Second Half, 65' - IND 0-1 AUS
It seems India have survived the immediate onslaught, but are still under relative pressure from Australia. With 25 minutes to go, the Blue Tigers need to start building inroads toward the opposition goal if they are to get anything from this one.
Meanwhile, Australia are the first to alter things. Martin Boyle goes off for Samuel Silvera, while Riely McGree replaces Connor Metcalfe.
6:23 PM: Second Half, 60' - IND 0-1 AUS
An hour gone in Al-Rayyan and, from the Indian perspective, something's got to change. The Blue Tigers defended bravely but are now facing another prospect altogether. Chasing the game, they will need to get out of their half for starters before mounting a challenge toward the Australian half, let alone the Australian box.
Much of the crowd inside the stadium is in Indian colours; they, and those watching from a distance, are eagerly awaiting the Indian response.
6:18 PM: Second Half, 55' - IND 0-1 AUS
India are dwindling under pressure in Al-Rayyan. Australia, clearly buoyed by the breakthrough, are trying to settle the matter. They go close again through Aziz Behich, whose shot is blocked inside the box.
6:14 PM: Second Half, 50' - IND 0-1 AUS
Goal Australia! Irvine scores! That is a disaster for the Blue Tigers. After enduring for so long beneath relentless Australian pressure, India finally crack. The goal happens due to an error from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who spills a routine cross into Irvine's path and the St Pauli man guides the ball in despite two men on the line.
6:13 PM: Second Half, 50' - IND 0-0 AUS
Australia have picked up right where they left off, albeit with an additional stride in their step. The first chance of the half falls to St Pauli's Jackson Irvine, who collects the ball at the edge of the box and attempts to curl it in, but misses the target by a distance.
6:08 PM: Second Half, 45' - IND 0-0 AUS
The match resumes with India 45 minutes away from a crucial point and, perhaps, even more!
5:55 PM: Statistical Perspective
Australia, at the midway point, have had 72 per cent of the ball compared to India's 28. They have taken 14 shots at goal to India's three. But, here's the catch. India have had one shot on target - a searching long-ranger from Suresh Wangjam - while Australia, for all their dominance, have only had two!
While the numbers tell a story, it is only half complete. Australia's lack of prolificacy is not due to the underperformance of their own attackers. Rather, India have defended with their bodies on the line, diverting many goalbound shots toward safety.
5:52 PM: First Half Ends - IND 0-0 AUS
While the chances have been few and far between for India, they have, it must be said, defended like warriors out on the pitch. Ten minutes on, the Blue Tigers fell into a low-block, heading, blocking, and clearing away whatever Australian threw at them. Sandesh Jhingan, in particular, has been the star of the Indian defence and at a great cost; the defender will return with a bandaged head and more than a few bruises in the second half, as India look to record a positive result.
5:45 PM: First Half, 45' - IND 0-0 AUS
Five minutes added on at the end of the half. Just before the interval, a collision between Kye Rowles and Sandesh Jhingan halts play until the latter is treated by the team doctors. Jhingan re-enters the pitch with a bandaged head to a raucous applause from the crowd.
At the other end, Suresh Wangjam tries his luck from distance, but hits it straight into the hands of Matt Ryan.
5:40 PM: First Half, 40' - IND 0-0 AUS
In the build-up to the game, Indian head coach Stimac was clear that his side must try and avoid conceding set pieces around the box. Desperately defending at the moment, India have done precisely the opposite; they are conceding too many free-kicks in dangerous areas, with the likes of Harry Souttar and Mitchell Duke lurking.
5:35 PM: First Half, 35' - IND 0-0 AUS
For a little bit of perspective, there are 77 places currently separating India from Australia in the FIFA rankings. The Socceroos are 25th on the charts while India are 102nd. India are also the lowest-ranked side in their group, behind Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria.
Ten minutes to go into the half-time, India are holding on, repelling waves of Australian attack one after the other.
5:30 PM: First Half, 30' - IND 0-0 AUS
A word of appreciation for midfielder Deepak Tangri, who is making his debut for the Indian national football team today. Tangri has been steadfast in the middle of the pitch and only recently went flying in to block a cross from the right.
India, meanwhile, have dealt with a couple of Australian corners in the past minutes and are firmly on the backfoot at the moment. Head coach Igor Stimac will be counting down the minutes till the interval to reinvigorate his side and even add some fresh blood in the mix.
5:25 PM: First Half, 25' - IND 0-0 AUS
We're halfway through the first half and India have stood their ground against Australia while fashioning the odd foray into the opposition box. The Blue Tigers are well-organised and are beginning to frustrate the Socceroos. Can they carve out another chance as good as the one that fell to Chhetri earlier, it remains to be seen.
5:20 PM: First Half, 20' - IND 0-0 AUS
The clearest chances of the afternoon fall at either end! First, Sunil Chhetri goes close for India with a diving header, which he cannot direct on target, much to the astonishment of his head coach. Then. a mistake by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu allows Australia to have a go at the Indian goal. Gurpreet recovers in time to stop the initial shot, while the reply from Australia is to flash a dangerous ball across the box that is eventually blocked.
Thrilling give minutes in Al-Rayyan!
5:15 PM: First Half, 15' - IND 0-0 AUS
Some early themes have emerged from the India vs Australia tie in Al-Rayyan. India's strategy is clear and sensible; the Blue Tigers have sunken into a compact block of three lines, occupying the space in and around their box to prevent Australia from making any inroads. Meanwhile, they are trying to release Chhangte at every opportunity possible. For his part, the winger has made two whizzing bursts into the Australian third and has looked the liveliest of any Indian players in the first half.
Australia, meanwhile, are already knocking on the door. A key theme to watch later would be how the Socceroos manage their set-pieces, given the threat they possess in air.
5:10 PM: First Half, 10' - IND 0-0 AUS
India have fallen into a low-block already, remaining compact within their own third as Australia try to build their attacks through or around the block. Left-back Aziz Behich tries his luck from distance but misses the target by a mile; meanwhile, the Indian defenders step in to prevent some teasing Australian balls into the box from dealing any significant damage.
5:05 PM: First Half, 5' - IND 0-0 AUS
Some early promise here from India, who attack through Lallianzuala Chhangte down the left flank. Having isolated his marker one-v-one, Chhangte crosses for the onrushing Sunil Chhetri and Manvir Singh, but the cross is slightly overhit as it avoids them both by centimeters. Good start from the Blue Tigers!
5:00 PM: Here we go!
First Half, 1' - India 0-0 Australia
4:58 PM: Almost There!
Anthems done, pre-match handshakes done...we are minutes away from kick off here!
4:45 PM: Can Blue Tigers Make History?
Four years ago, Sunil Chhetri and Co. missed out on a place in the knockouts by a whisker. Needing a positive result on the final matchday, they defended valiantly, attacked purposefully, but lost 1-0 to Bahrain through a stoppage-time goal. The permutations haven't changed in four years; starting as the bottom-ranked team in the group, India need to finish at least third to make it over the line - and even that may not be enough!
After Australia, India will play Uzbekistan and Syria. Four points from these set of fixtures will all but guarantee their place in the next round.
4:37 PM: Sunil Chhetri Speaks Ahead Of IND Vs AUS Tie
Speaking ahead of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 tie against Australia, skipper Sunil Chhetri said they might surprise the Socceroos.
“You never know. I will not be surprised if India gets a good result tomorrow, I mean we have the team to surprise them. You know, Australia is not the Australia of a decade ago. We also have made progress as a team," Bhutia told on Friday. "Yes, it will be a tough match, but it is not an impossible task (to get a good result) for this side against them," he added.
4:33 PM: India Vs Australia Head-to-head Record
In nine meetings against the Aussies, the Blue Tigers have three times.
4:31 PM: Best Wishes Coming For Men's Football Team From Afar
4:27 PM: Line-Ups
India - Sunil Chhetri (C), Gurpreet Singh (GK), Rahul Bheke, Subhashish Bose, Sandesh Jhingan, Suresh Singh, Manvir Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Lalengmawia Apuia, Nikhil Poojary, Deepak Tangri
Australia - Matt Ryan (C/GK), Kye Rowels, Martin Boyle, Connor Metcalfe, Mitchell Duke, Aziz Behich, Keanu Baccus, Harry Souttar, Jackson Irvine, Craig Goodwin, Gethin Jones
4:20 PM: Preview!
Indian men's national football team kick-off their AFC Asian Cup 2023 against the mighty Australia that boast some of the top A-League as well as European pedigree footballers in their ranks. Matt Ryan has played for the likes of Brighton and Arsenal whereas Harry Souttar plys his trade with Leicester City in the Premier League.
