New Delhi: India’s 1-1 draw with Malaysia only confirmed was is widely believed that Manolo Marquez’s faith on Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is misplaced, after his unpardonable error meant the national football team will end 2024 without a win, a first since 2014.
Sandhu has been India’s unchallenged No.1 for nearly a decade with good reason. But in recent times he has shown signs of failing repeatedly, which could have been cue for Marquez to bring a either Vishal Kaith or Amrinder Singh, both long-standing understudies.
But his insistence on Sandhu is bound to be questioned after the manner the Bengaluru FC keeper charged out his penalty area and misjudged a harmless hopeful floater, the ball bouncing over his head for Paulo Josue to roll it into the empty net on 19 minutes.
For such an experienced glovesman, to make such a rookie mistake is unthinkable, as was his reson to come out of his area when he was under no pressure to do it.
It points not only to an error in judgement but also to lapse in concentration. At a pre-match media interaction, Sandhu had boldly said that he isn’t willing to relinquish his spot easily, but judging by the goal he conceded on Monday, Marquez would have think of others when he reconvenes for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in March next year.
Till that howler, neither teams had created any clear-cut opportunities though they tried to move the ball at pace and create spaces in an outside the box.
Bheke scores
After conceding in such a silly fashion, onus was on India to respond, which they did on 39 minutes when Rahul Bheke came from behind to evade his marker and head in Brandon Fernandes’ inviting corner.
It must have soothed nerves of Gurpreet’s and Marquez in the dugout as the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
But in the next 45 minutes there was not much to separate the two teams, as it has always been when these to teams have met. 32 prior meetings have produced eight draws and 12 wins apiece.
It ends all square in Hyderabad.#INDMAS #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/mHfNxTNTgj
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 18, 2024
Wanting to break the stalemate, Marquez brought on Valpuia and Manvir Singh in place of Bheke and Lallianzuala Chhangte in the 66th minute. Edmund and Jithin MS came in for Farukh Choudhary and Irfan Yadwad 13 minutes later.
However, it was Malaysia’s 76th minute substitute Fergus Tierney who could have had the telling impact had not his header rebounded off the post in the second minute of added time.
It was apt for the occasion though as both teams didn’t create much to deserve a win, keeping Marquez in search of his first victory since taking charge in July.
India ended the year without a win after being held to a 1-1 draw by Malaysia in a FIFA international friendly that extended head coach Manolo Marquez’s wait for his first win as since taking over in July. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
