Uncertain days ahead, India’s Asian cup exit deepens the trouble in football calendar
Kolkata, October 14: India’s AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign came to a disappointing end with a 1–2 loss to Singapore at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Tuesday evening. Despite a dominant start and multiple opportunities to score, the Blue Tigers were undone once again by defensive lapses and missed chances, a pattern that has haunted them throughout the qualifiers.
The home side began brightly, with Mahesh Naorem and Lallianzuala Chhangte looking lively on the wings. Early pressure from India earned a corner in the second minute, though it was comfortably dealt with by the Singaporean defence. The opening stages were tense, with both sides trying but unable to find clear openings.
India finally found the breakthrough in the 14th minute through Chhangte, from a miss clearence of Singaporean defense, Chhangte unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box that flew into the top-left corner. It was a moment of brilliance, his first international goal since June 2024.
Chhangte nearly doubled the lead just minutes later In the 18th minute, after being played through by Subhasish Bose, but his effort was denied by Baharudin. In the 36th minute a flowing team move saw Chhetri and Colaco combine, however Hariss Harun to make a crucial goal-line clearance to deny India a second.
Just before the break, at 44th minute however, disaster struck again before ending the half like the previous fixtures. An error at the back allowed Singapore back into the game. Rahul Bheke’s attempted clearance fell kindly for Kweh, who set up Song Ui-young to level the score with a composed finish into the bottom corner.
After the restart, India looked to restore their lead but conceded on a counterattack. In the 58th minute, a goalbound move involving Ikhsan Fandi, Anuar, and Song ended with the scorer slotting the ball into the net, his second of the night to put Singapore ahead.
India pushed hard for an equaliser, with Chhetri and Sahal both coming close. Chhangte continued to torment the Singapore defence down the left, while Colaco and Apuia tried to break through with clever link-up play, Khalid Jamil injecting the fresh legs. Yet, every effort was either blocked or saved by goalkeeper Mahbud, who stood tall under their attacking pressure.
As the final whistle blew, frustration filled the Goan air. The result means India’s hopes of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup have come to an end consecutively third time. For all their possession and enterprise, the inability to capitalise on chances once again proved costly.
India exits the qualification campaign with lessons to learn, about consistency, composure, and the fine margins that separate success from heartbreak in international football. What happens next remains uncertain, as the storm around Indian football’s calendar continues to move on. With fixture congestion, unclear planning, and constant pressure on players and coaches alike, the future looks anything but settled. The defeat doesn’t just mark the end of a campaign, it adds another layer to the growing unrest in Indian football, where answers are few, and the questions keep piling up.
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