India Held to 1-1 Draw by Malaysia as Winless Streak Continues Under Coach Marquez

The Indian football team closed out a frustrating calendar year with a 1-1 draw against Malaysia at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. This disappointing result left the team with no wins across their 11 matches in 2023.

Among these games, India faced lower-ranked opponents like Afghanistan and even minnows Mauritius, yet they struggled to secure victories.

A Year Without Wins and a Promising Start Under Marquez

Despite the lack of pace in Monday’s match against Malaysia, new coach Manolo Marquez would have found a few positives. The Indian team was solid defensively, and the midfield, featuring Apuia Ralte and Suresh Singh, worked tirelessly.

The defence was notably resilient, with both players contributing immensely in breaking up attacks. However, the highlight of the game for India was marred by a shocking blunder from goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, which gifted Malaysia their only goal.

The Indian defence held strong throughout, and Marquez’s strategies began to show potential as players like Brandon Fernandes and Lallianzuala Chhangte combined well with the forwards.

While India did manage to create opportunities, they failed to convert them into goals, continuing a pattern that has plagued their game throughout 2023. Marquez will now turn his focus to solving these problems ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers in March.

Gurpreet’s Blunder and India’s Resilience

The match took a disastrous turn in the 19th minute when goalkeeper Gurpreet made a costly mistake. A Malaysian defender cleared the ball toward the Indian goal, but Gurpreet, who had come off his line without much danger, misjudged the bounce of the ball.

Instead of retreating to his position to clear or collect the ball, he tried to head it but failed, allowing Malaysian forward Paulo Josue to pounce on the mistake. Josue controlled the ball and calmly tapped it into the empty net with his left foot, giving Malaysia a 1-0 lead.

While this mistake could have derailed India’s efforts, the team quickly regrouped and responded. Twenty minutes later, India equalized through a well-executed corner. Brandon’s delivery from the right found Rahul Bheke, who was free in space, and he expertly headed the ball into the net to level the score at 1-1.

The assist was a testament to Brandon’s precise delivery, and credit also goes to Sandesh Jhingan. Returning to the national team after nearly a year due to knee surgery, Jhingan did a fantastic job holding off two defenders, allowing Bheke to make the run and score.

India’s Attacking Struggles and Search for a Striker

After equalizing, India dominated possession and pushed forward in search of a winner. Brandon, Farukh Choudhary, and Irfan Yadwad worked well together to create opportunities, particularly on the left wing. However, Malaysia’s central defenders stood firm, and despite several dangerous crosses into the box, India couldn’t find the clinical finishing touch they needed.

The game highlighted a major issue for the Indian team – their struggle to find a reliable striker. With Sunil Chhetri’s retirement looming, Marquez handed the striking responsibility to debutant Irfan Yadwad.

The towering Chennaiyin forward showed promise, running into space, challenging defenders, and connecting with crosses, but his efforts weren’t enough to secure a win. As India’s only target man on the field, Irfan was often isolated, with the team relying heavily on perfectly placed crosses, which were not always forthcoming.

This struggle to convert chances into goals has been a recurring issue for India throughout the year. The lack of quality strikers, compounded by the fact that Indian players rarely play in forward positions for their club sides, means that India’s attacking play can often lack the final product. Marquez’s challenge will be to find a solution to this problem before the Asian Cup qualifiers.

What Lies Ahead for India

Despite the 1-1 draw, there were encouraging signs for the Indian football team, particularly in defence. Marquez’s tactics appear to be taking shape, and the midfield is working hard to break down opposition attacks.

However, the search for a striker remains one of the team’s most pressing issues. Irfan’s debut showed promise, but it will be crucial to provide him with better service and support in the upcoming matches.

As India looks toward the Asian Cup qualifiers in March 2024, Marquez will need to address the team’s attacking woes while maintaining the solid defensive foundation that was evident against Malaysia. The year may have ended without a win, but there are signs that with some improvements, India could enter the new year with renewed hope for success.