India (IND) vs Singapore (SGP) Football Live Score Updates, Asian Cup Qualifier Today Match Updates: Ui-young Song’s double strikes put the final nail in India’s chances of qualifying for the Asian Cup as Singapore walked away with a 1-2 victory against the Blue Tigers. Earlier, Lallianzuala Chhangte’s 14th minute strike was cancelled out Song’s equalizer in the 44th minute as India were left to rue a slate of missed chances. Song would end India’s dreams once and for all in the second half after his 58th minute strike.
India currently have 2 points from 4 matches and have next to no chances to qualify for the next round. In order to have a chance to upstage leaders Hong Kong, India not only have to win all their remaining matches but also hope that Hong Kong drops points in at least two of their remaining three games. In case the two teams are level on points India need to defeat Hong Kong 2-0 in March in order to get by through head to head encounters.
But first, India have to go past Singapore with head coach Khalid Jamil advocating for an attacking mindset in the Blue Tigers’ home match. After his appointment, India finished 3rd in the recent CAFA Nations Cup, even defeating Oman on penalties. But in last week’s match against Singapore, India reverted to type when they played defensively from the off.
Follow live updates from IND vs SGP Match below
Last minute. India have a free kick deep in their half. Gurpreet hooves it but Singapore defenders deal with it. Udanta with one final attempt as he crosses to Sahal and it's gone for a corner. Gurpreet makes his way forward. And nothing from it. And all over. India's Asian Cup dream is in tatters.
Full Time: IND 1-2 SGP
4 extra minutes is all India have now. Can they rally? Singapore with a short corner as they run down the clock. And they'll also make a change. Gurpreet hits it long and Faruk gets a touch but it's cleared away. Bheke with a long throw and the keeper takes it.
IND 1-2 SGP
CHANCE!!! Ohhh but what has Brandon done. He was free in the box and he completely miskicks it which leads to Singapore clearing easily!!
IND 1-2 SGP
India get a free kick inside their half now. And they go forward with short passes. The ball reaches Brandon but he can't get any elevation. The door is slowly closing on India's chances here.
IND 1-2 SGP
Last throw of the dice for India as Chhangte goes off and Brandon comes in. But Singapore are the ones in attack as a vicious header is saved by Gurpreet to keep India in the hunt!!
IND 1-2 SGP
Into the last 10 mins now and India look like they are out of answers with the tired legs getting apparent. Singapore are seeing a little bit of more of the ball but can't seem to find the final pass to kill this one off. And Chhangte almost scores as he gets a head to it and goes wide!!
IND 1-2 SGP
Singapore are trying to shut shot, content to just clear the ball from the danger area as they sit back and try to absorb the India pressure. India will now make 2 changes it seems. Chhetri and Lison are off. Rahim Ali and Udanta Singh come in
IND 1-2 SGP
India keep piling on the pressure with Liston's shot is deflected behind for a corner which leads into another one. Chhangte takes it, Bheke gets a touch but Singapore clear again.
IND 1-2 SGP
And Chhangte sends it in and that almost fell for Farukh but it's only a throw. What can India do from this one? And there's a foul by Fandi now as Liston outsmarts him. Free kick for India. But before that Singapore will make 2 changes. And a great volley from Samad that goes over with the defender heading it. Nothing much from the corners and now Bheke will take a long throw as Singapore defend desperately. And Singapore goes on the counter.
IND 1-2 SGP
Excellent run by Liston to beat the offside trap, bamboozles a Singapore defender and gets a corner. Chhangte takes and Chhetri gets a touch on that at the near post and it goes agonizingly over!!
IND 1-2 SGP
Chhangte causing all the trouble in the left wing and gets a corner. And Bheke attacks that but that's over the bar by the SGP keeper. Another one. This time, Liston plays it too deep and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
IND 1-2 SGP
Almost an equalizer as Chhangte sends a delicious cross through the middle and Chhetri rises, gets his head to it but it's into the grateful mitts of the keeper.
IND 1-2 SGP
AAAND INDIA HAVE CONCEDED!! That was a delightful through ball fed to the feet of Fandi who looks up and feeds Song waiting in the clear. And he slams it into the net for a cool finish!!
IND 1-2 SGP
India get a foul again as Liston is brought don towards the right hand side but the end product is missing from their attack in this half. A good free kick next and Sunil Chhetri is caught offside.
IND 1-1 SGP
Mahesh does very well to keep the ball in and tries to cross but Singapore gets the ball back as India are content to keep the ball and attempt to cross from the right hand side.
IND 1-1 SGP
GREAT BALL BY ANWAR ALI AND LISTON GETS THE BALL AND HE'S FOULED JUST ON THE EDGE OF THE SINGAPORE PENALTY BOX!!! Chhangte standing over the free kick and it hits the ball and is out for a corner!!
IND 1-1 SGP
Here we go for the second half and India will have to do exactly what they did in the first 35 mins of the match. Keep Singapore under pressure. They have reverted back to type, trying to slow the game down and going for long balls. We'll see how that strategy works.
IND 1-1 SGP
And that is what is she wrote for the first match. Chhangte's early goal is canceled out by song as India are left to rue those close misses in the first half. India have been the dominant side but they have nothing to show for it heading into half time. Second half coming up in a bit.
India will now look to see off this half without any incidents, slowing down the game. But here come Singapore!! AAAND THEY HAVE SCORED!! UIYOUNG!!! He is fed by an intelligent ball by Kweh and the player makes no mistakes as he beats Gurpreet on his far post!!
IND 1-1 SGP
Singapore are getting desperate with Stewart trying to catch Gurpreet off his line and shoots from almost close to the cente line. But ends up fouling Subhasish.
IND 1-0 SGP
Singapore trying to get a foothold in this match with short, snappy passes but they keep going for that long ball that has been pretty ineffective thus far with Gurpreet pretty comfortable. AAANDDD Chhteri almost makes them pay. Liston with a cross to Chhetri who sets it up for Mahesh but the ball is hit straight to the keeper.
IND 1-0 SGP
Singapore are intent on just hooving the ball clear from the3ir own half, hoping against hope that they'll catch India unawares. But till now, it's not working at all.
IND 1-0 SGP
Ohhhh!! Another chace goes begging as Mahesh finds Chhangte free in the middle but he has a horrible hit!! His body shape was all wrong and the ball ricochets off his standing foot!!
IND 1-0 SGP
India are allowed to take a lot and they go for the counter attack and almost!! Chhangte feeds Chhetriu in the middle but the ball is beyond the striker and Liston gets it and shoots but it's cleared from on the line!!
IND 1-0 SGP
Touch and turn by Mahesh, feeds Chhangte whose cross is blocked. A throw for India. Taken short and Bheke delivers with his left but no dice. Back to Gurpreet they go.
IND 1-0 SGP
India with the lion's share of the possession now, playing the ball around the field before suddenly going for a long ball for Chhetri to chase but the goalkeeper is equal to it.
IND 1-0 SGP
Rohit: Attack. Jamil had repeated that quite a few times in the press conference yesterday and even in the minute long pre-match interview today. Well, his wards have done exactly that in the first 20 minutes. Chhangte with an absolute howitzer from distance and Apuia went for another a minute later, albeit it was so far off target it almost brought more rain. But Singapore are being stretched to shreds in these opening minutes. They are having to make hopeful long clearances, India in full control in these opening exchanges
Ohhhh!! Almost another one as Chhangte feeds an overlapping Subhasish who tries to feed Chhetri but it's just cleared away by a Singapore defender!!
IND 1-0 SGP
India's press is working like a charm as they keep winning the ball back, pegging Singapore back into their own half. They are trying their trusty long ball but India are equal to them.
IND 1-0 SGP
OH MY WORD!!! WHAT A STRIKE!! WHAT A LEFT FOOT!! Chhangte gets the ball a little far from the edge of the box and drives his laces through it as it beats the flying Singapore goalkeeper and into the net!!
IND 1-0 SGP
It's getting a bit feisty out there with challenges flying around left, right and centre with Mahesh winning a free kick near the right of the SGP box. Chhangte takes it and that's also cleared. Chhangte tries again with a beautiful cross towrads Chhetri but the goalie catches it. Better from India.
IND 0-0 SGP
India are pressing pretty high up the field, hurrying the Singapore players. And there's a free kick for the Blue Tigers. Lofted ball by Liston and it's cleared easily.
IND 0-0 SGP
Another foul by Bheke on fandi and Singapore get another free kick. They play it short and are content to keep possession. India get it back and start their own attack before passing behind to keep it in their half.
IND 0-0 SGP
Singapore with a free kick now and that's played deep into the India box and Gurpreet can collect and get India into the counter attack which breaks down due to miscommunication between Mahesh and Liston.
IND 0-0 SGP
And we are off with India kicking us away. The ball is lobbed straight for a goal kick for Singapore. From that, India win back possession and Mahesh's cross gets a Singapore leg and India get a corner. Low corner and a foul top give Singapore back the ball.
IND 0-0 SGP
Here come the two teams. India in their familiar Blue and Singapore in red. It's time for the national anthems and we'll get to it as soon as the pre-match pleasantries are over.
It has been almost 7 months since Sunil Chhetri has netted for the Blue Tigers. His last goal was against Maldives in March in a friendly in the first match that he came back after cancelling his initial retirement. Since then, he has sat out the CAFA Nations Cup. Can he finally end the wait tonight?
It seems the sound of the ball being kicked around during the warm-up can be heard quite loudly around the stadium, ahead of a do-or-die match for India at home. In Goa, no less. Some drizzle as well.
If we end up having a poor turnout today, the fact that tickets were made live only a couple days before the match could be one of the reasons. The other big reason? The cheapest ticket costs Rs 200. In fact, you have to see the prices to believe it, says Rohit
Ticket Prices
North Upper: Rs 299/-
North Lower (Away): Rs 199/-
South Upper: Rs 299/-
South Lower: Rs 199/-
West Upper: Rs 699/-
East Upper: Rs 449/-
East Lower: Rs 559/-
VVIP Stand: Rs 1,999/-
Rohit: Subhasish Bose and Lalengmawia Ralte were nowhere to be seen in the Indian squad before that away match against Singapore last week. And yet, here they are, in the starting XI, no less. The case of Subhasish is especially puzzling. Khalid Jamil had said yesterday in the press conference that Subhashish has been brought in because of Sandesh Jhingan's suspension. Bose taking Jhingan's place in the XI made sense, somewhat. Instead, we have Bose replacing Muhammad Uvais at left back. Uvais's mistake is what led to India conceding in that first match but his long throw-ins have been invaluable to them.
Jamil's appointment as national coach came close on the heels of a historic campaign with Jamshedpur FC, as it became the first Indian to guide a side to the semi-finals of the Indian Super League (ISL). Jamil’s approach with Jamshedpur was straightforward – score early, let the other team have possession and hit them on the counter while always remaining a threat on set-pieces, even throw-ins. This was dependent on his forwards taking their chances and defenders rarely committing mistakes.
In the case of the Indian team, this worked well when they faced higher-ranked opponents at the CAFA Nations Cup, even helping them beat Tajikistan and Oman. But it also meant that India played out a 0-0 draw with Afghanistan in that tournament.
Irfan Najeeb and Amirul Adli replaces Ryhan Stewart and Shah Shahiran in the Singapore lineups with both first-choice full-backs dealing with suspensions. These are the only two changes Singapore have opted to make against India.
India are in a bit of a dry run against Singapore with their last victory against the team coming over 10 years back when the Blue Tigers came out with a 1-0 win in a World Cup qualifier in 2004.
“We approached the last game thinking that we wanted the three points, and we want to do the same in this match too. The only difference now is that we are not at home. So that obviously is a slight advantage to India. But again, no problem. We will go with our heads down, do our best, and try to bring the three points home.”
The reason why their qualification is out of their hands is because even if they win all their remaining matches, India can finish with a maximum of 11 points. Hong Kong, on the other hand, can finish on 13 points even if they lose their last qualification match against India on March 31 next year.
Hong Kong: To beat Hong Kong to the top spot, India will need to win all their matches plus hope that Hong Kong drop points in at least two of their remaining three games. If India and Hong Kong finish level on points, then it comes down to the head-to-head results between the two sides. Since Hong Kong beat India 1-0, the latter will have to beat them 2-0 at least in March next year in such a scenario.
Singapore: It is more straightforward if India finish level on points with Singapore. India will have the edge on them in a head-to-head scenario if they win in Goa on Monday.
Subhasish Bose replaces Muhammed Uvais while Apuia comes into the midfield in place of Macarton Nickson while Mahesh Singh replaces Farukh Chaudhary. Meanwhile, Bheke comes in place of the suspended Sandesh Jhingan.
It is pretty much last chance saloon for India as they face Singapore at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. India are in Group C of the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The third round consists of 24 teams – made of the three best-ranked losing teams from the first round of qualifers, 18 third and fourth-placed teams from the second and three winners from the playoff round. The teams have been divided into six groups of four each and the only sides that will qualify for the final tournament from here are the ones that finish top of their respective groups.
Singapore 1-1 India (AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers)
Singapore 1-1 Myanmar (Friendly)
Malaysia 2-1 Singapore (Friendly)
Bangladesh 1-2 Singapore (AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers)
Singapore 3-1 Maldives (Friendly)
Singapore 1-1 vs India (AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers)
Oman 1-1 India (CAFA Nations Cup) (India won 3-2 on penalties)
Afghanistan 0-0 India (CAFA Nations Cup)
India 0-3 Iran (CAFA Nations Cup)
Tajikistan 1-2 India (CAFA Nations Cup)
India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK); Valpuia, Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Subhasish Bose; Apuia, Nikhil Prabhu; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Liston Colaco; Sunil Chhetri
Singapore: Izwan Mahbud (GK); Irfan Najeeb, Hariss Harun, Safuwan Baharuddin, Amirul Adli; Kyoga Nakamura, Song Ui-Young, Harhys Stewart; Shawal Anuar, Ikshan Fandi, Glenn Kweh
India's starting XI is out with talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri starting once again while there are 4 changes to the team that played against Singapore in the last week.
The last time these two sides met was last week when India's Rahim Ali cancelled out Ikhsan Fandi’s first half strike in the 90th minute with the Blue Tigers surviving by the skin of their teeth.
“Start with an attacking mood.” Khalid Jamil repeated this a few times in his typically staccato answers during the pre-match press conference before India’s 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in Margao, which is also his first home game as the national team’s head coach. “It is our home ground, we have to think positive. We have to be in an attacking mood from the start,” Jamil told reporters.
India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK) - Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Muhammed Uvais, Subhasish Bose - Nikhil Prabhu, Deepak Tangri - Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco - Sunil Chhetri
Singapore: Izwan Mahbud (GK) - Ryhan Stewart, Irfan Fandi, Safuwan Baharudin, Jordan Emaviwe - Kyoga Nakamura, Harhys Stewart - Shawal Anuar, Ui-young Song, Glenn Kweh - Ikhsan Fandi
When it comes to head to head stats, the two sides are almost evenly matched with India holding a slight advantage with 12 wins as opposed to Singapore's 11. 5 games have ended in draws including the last one.
India will face Singapore for the second time in a week when the two sides lock horns in the third round of Asian Cup Qualifiers. India's hope of progressing further hangs by a thread with the Blue Tigers needing a win against the lower-ranked Singapore. But it's easier said than done. Can a homefield advantage spur them on at Goa tonight? We'll find out soon enough.
“Start with an attacking mood.” Khalid Jamil repeated this a few times in his typically staccato answers during the pre-match press conference before India’s 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in Margao, which is also his first home game as the national team’s head coach. “It is our home ground, we have to think positive. We have to be in an attacking mood from the start,” Jamil told reporters. If India indeed come out with that attitude, those who have followed Jamil’s teams might see something familiar, something that had gone missing in India’s 1-1 draw in Singapore last week.
