AFC Asian Cup 2019, Thailand versus India as it happened: Chhetri brace gives Blue Tigers 4-1 win
Sunil Chhetri’s penalty was cancelled out but they hit back to register a first Asian Cup win in 55 years.
THAILAND 1-3 INDIA
27’: Sunil Chhetri (penalty)
34’: Theerathon
46’: Sunil Chhetri
68’: Anirudh Thapa
80’: Jeje Lalpekhlua
India: Gurpreet; Kotal, Jhingan, Edathodika, Bose; Halder, Thapa, Narzary, Udanta, Kuruniyan; Chhetri
Full-time and India win 4-1.
What a win, what a win! India register an emphatic win in their first Asian Cup game against Thailand.
Sunil Chhetri with two goals, Anirudh Thapa with a third and Jeje Lalpekhlua adds a fourth. What a result for Stephen Constantine and his men.
Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have in hand & regret after we have lost it. @StephenConstan @chetrisunil11 @GurpreetGK & the entire team deliver a REVOLUTIONARY performance putting behind all criticism & speculation. Take a bow all of you 🙌🙌 @IndianFootball #THAvIND
— Kishore Taid (@taidk) January 6, 2019
90’: Thailand 1-4 India
Three minutes of added time. India are on the verge of a famous win.
Incredible work rate, strong will power, unbelievable resilience and perfect mental attitude of the whole team
— Aditi Chauhan GK 🇮🇳 (@aditi03chauhan) January 6, 2019
And ofcourse,the legend @chetrisunil11 lifts the team yet again
How this man does it time and again is simply incredible@IndianFootball guys,take a bow🙌#BackTheBlues
86’: Thailand 1-4 India
Pronay Halder goes off, to be replaced by Germanpreet Singh. India are four minutes of regulation time away from a first win over Thailand since 1986, and a first Asian Cup win since 1964.
On the other hand, #India is putting in a performance of a lifetime to earn their 1st decent win of the tournament. ~ 15 mins away.
— Shuaib Ahmed (@footynions) January 6, 2019
I won't say it, I won't .... but could this be the moment when #IND makes up for all the time its been called - sleeping giants? #AsianCup2019.
80’: Thailand 1-4 India
GOALLL!! Jeje makes it four for team India. He comes on and gives Constantine’s team a fourth. The Mizo sniper puts India on the brink of the knock-outs.
I hope all of us are focused on the real question. Whether Sunil Chhetri will win the Emerging Player of the Match award tonight?
— Priyansh (@Privaricate) January 6, 2019
68’: Thailand 1-3 India
GOALLL!! Chhetri passes it to Udanta, who lays off it to Anirudh Thapa. The Chennaiyin man chips it in the corner expertly.
63’: Thailand 1-2 India
Udanta runs down the flank, crosses it low to the keeper, Chhetri again wrecking havoc but the ball is cleared.
63' CHANCE! @UdantaK finds himself with acres of space down the right flank, surges forward, and crosses it in for @chetrisunil11 inside the area, but the latter is closed down and his shot is blocked.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
🇹🇭 1-2 🇮🇳#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND
54’: Thailand 1-2 India
Sunil Chhetri with a headed chance off a Thapa free-kick. India are in the ascendancy here.
52' India have come flying off the blocks in the second half. @StephenConstan's men are making good use of the flanks to trouble the Thai defence. @UdantaK & @ashiquekuruniya are having a busy day.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
🇹🇭 1-2 🇮🇳#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND
46’: Thailand 1-2 India
Sunil Chhetri with his second goal of the match. Chhetri chips it to Udanta, who runs to the byline and passes it to the striker. The Bengaluru FC man finishes it off with aplomb.
Half-time and it is all square, 1-1.
Can India hold on or will they move to challenge Thailand?
42’: Thailand 1-1 India
India make another foray forward, as Sunil Chhetri’s header is cushioned onto Ashique Kuruniyan, who sends it back to the skipper. Chhetri’s shot goes over.
39' @AnirudhThapa collects the ball just outside the Indian box, but is brought down by Sanrawat, who gets booked for the tackle.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
🇹🇭 1-1 🇮🇳#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND
34’: Thailand 1-1 India
Theerathon heads it in, as Teerasil Dangda’s free-kick is nodded in. Thailand are level.
27’: Thailand 0-1 India
GOALL!! Chhetri with a tottering run-up, but the captain gets his 66th international goal for team India. The Blue Tigers are ahead against Thailand.
26' @chetrisunil11 releases @ashiquekuruniya with a quick throw-in. The winger's cross hits a Thai hand, and the ref points to the spot. PENALTY!
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
🇹🇭 0-0 🇮🇳#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND
26’: 0-0
PENALTY!!! India are awarded a spot-kick for a handball by a Thai player.
20’: 0-0
Thailand have a free-kick. It causes confusion in the Indian ranks and Anas Edathodika clears it away.
18' Thailand advance down the flank, but @anasedathodika slides in and clears the ball.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
🇹🇭 0-0 🇮🇳#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND
10’: 0-0
Thailand come close. Titiphan drives towards the top left corner and Gurpreet breathes a sigh of relief.
Ashique Kuruniyan being involved early. Looks more like a 4-4-2 than 4-1-4-1 #IndianFootball #THAIND #AFCAsianCup
— Rahul Bhutani (@BhutaniRahul) January 6, 2019
1’: We have kick-off!
06:55 pm: From Latif to Prasad to Chhetri, the appointment of Indian football team captain has a dark history. Read more.
On our way to the stadium! #BluePilgrimsUAETakeover #THAIND pic.twitter.com/IcQnWGGxm4
— Blue Pilgrims (@BluePilgrims) January 6, 2019
06:45 pm:
1964 – Runners-up
1984 – Group Stage
2011 – Group Stage
How will India fare in 2019? Read about the history of India’s performances at the Asian Cup.
Today is D-Day!
— Philarima Hynniewta (@philarima) January 6, 2019
Today is MATCHDAY!
Today @IndianFootball will kickstart their journey in the #AFCAsianCup2019
Doesn't matter which club you support, today we come together for #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue #THAIND #AFCAsianCup2019
06:35 pm: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, one of the two survivors from 2011 and captain tonight, has words of encouragement for his side.
“The 2011 side was filled with a number of legends, all of whom were incredibly talented, and played under an incredible coach as well. However, in teams of team development and playing under the same system for a long time, I feel the batch of 2019 has the upper hand. The desire and the fire to learn defines our squad.”
Our dressing room looks 🔥😍🇮🇳#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND pic.twitter.com/CPpBBmyLjW
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
06:30 pm: The tournament has its first upset! Jordan defeat reigning champions Australia 1-0. What a result for the West Asian side.
India and Stephen Constantine also cannot wait to get underway.
“The players are really looking forward to the opening match, and so am I. We can’t wait for the game to kick-off. It’s time for the show.”
Full time: Australia 0 - 1 Jordan.#GoSocceroos #TogetherAsOne #AUSvJOR pic.twitter.com/dOVYR2rsYH
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 6, 2019
06:20 pm: For India, Thailand will be the key match as UAE and Bahrain may prove too strong. The pacy Thais however, are no pushovers.
(Read preview here: Opener against Thailand is India’s biggest match)
🇹🇭 vs 🇮🇳
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
Come on boys👊🏻#BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers #THAIND pic.twitter.com/NDb00Tj7jL
06:10 pm: The line-ups are out. Jeje Lalpekhlua is dropped, his form has been poor this Indian Super League season. Ashique Kuruniyan comes into the line-up, as Gurpreet Sandhu, Subhasish Bose, Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika and Pritam Kotal will start in defence.
No Jeje Lalpekhlua, whose form has been poor, in the starting eleven. India to play five in the midfield. #AsianCup2019 #THAIND pic.twitter.com/vP0ziAQsca
— Samindra Kunti (@samindrakunti) January 6, 2019
06:00 pm: Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu took his seat next to Stephen Constantine at the press-conference. The big Bengaluru keeper will captain India tonight against the War Elephants.
Earlier, the first match in this group ended 1-1 between the UAE and Bahrain.
The wait is finally over!
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
The #BlueTigers 🐯 play their first game of the @afcasiancup 2019 group stage against Thailand 🇹🇭 tonight at 7 PM.
Stick around for more updates on the big day!#THAIND #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/MWSbeLQPJo
Hello and welcome to the Field’s live blog of Thailand versus India in a Group A encounter at the AFC Asian Cup 2019 in the UAE. My name is Arka Bhattacharya and I’ll be taking you through to the end of the game.
India are hoping to win their first Asian Cup game in 55 years. Yes, that’s how long it’s been since India defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the 1964 Asian Cup.
