India Suffer Shock Defeat to Bangladesh in Asian Cup Qualifiers
Image Source: Internet
India's woes in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers continued as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Bangladesh in Dhaka's National Stadium, marking their first loss to the East Asian nation in 22 years. The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams eager to claim bragging rights in front of a packed crowd of over 23,000. The turning point came in the 11th minute when Shekh Morsalin scored the only goal of the match, capitalizing on a swift break initiated by Rakib Hossain. The goal was a result of India's failure to track Morsalin, who managed to nutmeg goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. India, who had been struggling to find their footing in the front third, introduced Mahesh Naorem in the second half, which gave their attack a much-needed boost. However, Bangladesh's dogged defense and disruptive tactics, led by goalkeeper Mitul Marma, proved to be too much for the Indian team. Despite creating several scoring opportunities, India was unable to capitalize on them, with midfielder Brison Fernandes failing to convert a free header in the 67th minute. The team's best chance had come earlier, but a combination of good defending and a bit of luck saw Bangladesh emerge victorious. The loss marks India's second consecutive defeat in the campaign, leaving them as the only team in group C without a win. With their chances of advancing to the finals slipping away, India will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to salvage their campaign.
