India and Bangladesh End in a Goalless Draw in 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

India kicked off their 2027 AFC Asian Cup third-round qualifiers with a 0-0 draw against Bangladesh at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Both teams showed plenty of effort, but neither could find the net. India hoped for a win to start their campaign strong, especially after beating Maldives 3-0 in a friendly just days earlier. However, despite a solid second half, they couldn’t turn their chances into goals.

Bangladesh came out strong in the first half. Right from the start, they nearly scored when India’s goalkeeper Vishal Kaith made a mistake. He cleared the ball poorly, and it went straight to Mojibor Jony, but Jony’s shot hit the side net. Soon after, Mohd. Shakil Topu ran down the right and crossed to Mohd Shariar Emon, whose header went over the bar. For the first 15 minutes, Bangladesh kept India’s defense busy with quick moves and energy. Then, in the 12th minute, Kaith kicked the ball into an opponent again. Mohammed Ridoy took a shot from a tough angle, but Subhasish Bose saved the day with a goal-line block.

India started to settle down after surviving Bangladesh’s early attacks. Their best moment in the first half came in the 31st minute. Liston Colaco crossed from the left, and Udanta Singh jumped for a header, but Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma stopped it easily. As the game went on, India took control, especially in the second half. They pushed Bangladesh back and made several attempts. In the 68th minute, Bose tried a long shot that beat Marma but missed the net by just inches. Five minutes later, Farukh Choudhary’s shot went wide after a deflection. Then, in the 84th minute, Sunil Chhetri got a free header, but it lacked power and went off target. India played well but couldn’t finish.

Coach Manolo Marquez made five changes to the team that beat Maldives. He brought in Boris Singh Thangjam, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sandesh Jhingan, and Farukh Choudhary. Jhingan took over as captain, replacing Chhetri, who had returned for the friendly win. Marquez’s plan seemed clear on the wet pitch, but Bangladesh still caused problems early. Hamza Choudhury, a midfielder on loan from Leicester City to Sheffield United, played for Bangladesh but didn’t make a big impact. India’s midfield grew stronger as the match went on, giving them more control, but the final touch was missing.

This draw means India and Bangladesh split the points in Group C, which also includes Hong Kong and Singapore. Only the top team after six matches will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. The two sides will meet again on November 18 in Bangladesh, giving India another shot at a win. Before that, India’s next qualifier is against Hong Kong on June 10 in Kowloon. They’ll need to sharpen their attack to get the goals they missed this time.

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