It’s all over in Bishkek, and India have lost this game 2-1!

The 13-match unbeaten streak comes to an end, as the Blue Tigers were outfought and outplayed tonight. Gurpreet Sandhu was by far the busier of the keepers, but Kyrgyz scored as early as the 2nd minute and never looked back.

Jeje Lalpekhlua’s 88th-minute goal was a mere consolation as Constantine’s men sans Chhetri were toothless and created very little. Next up, the Asian Cup draw. How will this loss affect India’s chances at the Asian Cup?

88 minutes, and Jeje pulls one back! Kyrgyz still lead 2-1.

Anirudh Thapa’s pass finds Narzary, whose cross is met head on by the Mizo sniper. Matiash can do nothing about the header as India have a glimmer of hope.

Less than 10 minutes of regulation time left, and India trail 2-0.

It hasn’t been a vintage display from India at all. They haven’t controlled the game, haven’t really had clear-cut chances and have been wide open at the back. On the other hand, Kyrgyz fully deserve this scoreline.

72 minutes, and Murzaev gives Kyrgyz their second goal. 2-0!

Gurpreet can’t keep the Central Asians out this time, as the Kyrgyz striker puts it in from close range. The defence can’t do anything as the White Falcons slice through the Indian backline.

An hour is up, and Constantine makes a change with India trailing 1-0.

Rowllin Borges is withdrawn, as Len Doungel replaces the central midfielder. India need to pull one back, with half an hour remaining.

57 minutes, and Gurpreet prevents Kyrgyz Republic doubling their lead.

Everyone in the penalty box stands off Zemlyanukhin, as the Kyrgyz goalscorer almost makes it a brace to his name. Takes a left-footed shot which the Bengaluru FC stopper saves acrobatically.

On 53 minutes, Borges thwacks one against Matiash as Kyrgyz lead 1-0.

The central midfielder’s shot is saved by the Kyrgyz keeper but Udanta’s follow-up is tame, and it goes straight into the keeper’s hands.

The second half kicks off, and Constantine makes a change.

Narayan Das is the man coming off, as young Jerry Lalrinzuala is brought on. India trail 1-0, and have 45 minutes to salvage their 13-match unbeaten streak.

Half-time, mercifully for India, as they trail 1-0.

It’s been one-way traffic in the first half, as the home side took an early lead and never looked back. The pitch hasn’t made it easy for the visitors, but they haven’t had a single chance on target barring Borges’ free-kick. Kyrgyz, on the other hand, should really be a couple of goals clear at this point, but have been wasteful.

What changes will Constantine make at half-time?

40 minutes on the clock, and the scoreline reads 1-0.

Gurpreet Sandhu is on the floor, as Kyrgyz flood forward in search for a second goal. Lalruatthara and Sandesh Jhingan have been very busy tonight.

On the half-hour mark, Kyrgyz lead 1-0.

Balwant puts the ball into the net for the second time this evening, and it’s the second time the Mumbai City forward’s strike has been ruled out.

19 minutes, and Borges almost levels it up for India.

Still 1-0 to the hosts, but Rowllin Borges’ free-kick rattles the post. Balwant follows it up but is flagged offside. India come close but the pitch isn’t making it too easy for them. Bishkek looks like it has taken a fair amount of rain in the past 24 hours, and it is hampering India’s passing play.

15 minutes, and it’s 1-0 to the hosts.

It looks like that first goal has pegged India back quite a bit. They are struggling to make it happen in the final third as the hosts are seeing much more of the ball.

2 minutes in, and Kyrgyz lead 1-0!

This is a lightning fast start from the hosts, and Anton Zemlyanukhin gives his side the lead, as he comes in from the left, and expertly volleys it home.

The White Falcons, ranked 115th in the world, gave India an almighty scare in Bengaluru before Sunil Chhetri scored a superb goal to give his side a crucial three points. Relive every moment of that goal here.

Play

Stephen Constantine stated that India have endured a ‘difficult Asian Cup qualification’. Remember, India finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group losing to the likes of Guam, before resuming their Asian Cup journey.

Although this team is a far cry from the one that had a disastrous ‘Road to Russia’ campaign, the job is not done yet, not by a long stretch. A win here could potentially push India to pot 2 of the Asian Cup draw. A loss could mean a potentially tricky draw for UAE 2019.

That’s India’s starting line-up for tonight. In goal, the ever-dependable Gurpreet Sandhu. In front of it, Pritam Kotal’s absence means that Lalruatthara of Kerala Blasters will take his place on the right.

Sunil Chhetri will miss the game through suspension, which will mean that Jeje Lalpekhlua will lead the line, with Balwant Singh playing just behind him. Udanta Singh and Halicharan Narzary will man the flanks.

Welcome to the final match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. India, of course, have already qualified as have hosts Kyrgyz Republic. This match is not a dead rubber, however. Read the preview here.