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India kicked off their AFC Asian Cup 2023 campaign with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Australia. Despite India’s commendable efforts, second-half goals from Jackson Irvine and Jordan Bos proved decisive for the 2015 Asian Cup champions.
As anticipated, the Blue Tigers emphasized defensive discipline without the ball, looking to absorb Australia’s pressure. Consequently, the Socceroos controlled the majority of the possession, but India’s defense, marshaled by Sandesh Jhingan, stood tall and limited clear-cut chances in the initial phase of the game.
Interestingly, it was Sunil Chhetri, who had the first notable opportunity, but his close-range header from Nikhil Poojary’s looping delivery missed the target.
Australia gradually gained momentum, with Conor Metcalfe and Martin Boyle testing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in goal. But despite recording 14 shots in the first half, the scores remained level courtesy of India’s defensive resilience.
The second half began with heartbreak for India, as Gurpreet’s error undid all of their efforts. Irvine made no mistake this time, converting the opportunity to give the Socceroos a vital lead.
The second goal soon arrived for Australia, with their two substitutes combining. Riley McGree wriggled past Subhasish Bose before his inch-perfect cross found Jordan Bos for a simple tap-in.
The Blue Tigers attempted to come out of their blocks, but they struggled to create significant opportunities, allowing Australia to coast comfortably in the final minutes and secure a 2-0 victory. India’s upcoming challenge is against Uzbekistan on January 18, while Australia is set to face Syria on the same date.
On that note, let’s take a look at how the Blue Tigers fared against Australia.
India Player ratings
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu [4]
Early in the game, Gurpreet had a nervous moment when he lost possession in a dangerous area and was forced to parry Metcalfe’s subsequent attempt. He then made a huge error, fumbling a looping cross, with the ball falling kindly into Irvine’s feet, who gave Australia the lead.
Overall, the Bengaluru FC shot-stopper will be disappointed with his performance.
Nikhil Poojary [7.5]
Poojary has been prone to making defensive errors in the past, but the full-back rose to the occasion and defended brilliantly.
Not only did his defensive positioning shine, but he also made overlapping runs to support the forwards, even setting up an early opportunity for Chhetri.
Sandesh Jhingan [9]
Jhingan brilliantly led the backline, as his no-nonsense defending and ability to read the game, combined with throwing his body on the line, ensured India went into the break without conceding.
He was India’s standout performer on the night, as he made nine clearances despite his team conceding two goals.
Rahul Bheke [8]
Bheke had a couple of shaky moments in possession early in the game, but he won several duels in the penalty box, which was crucial given Australia’s physicality and height up front.
Subhasish Bose [8.5]
Bose was brilliant in the first half, as he stood firm and minimized Boyle’s influence on the game. He consistently won one-versus-one duels on the flanks and effectively prevented crosses into the box.
Despite the scoreline, Bose stood out as one of India’s top performers, winning five out of seven ground duels.
Deepak Tangri [8]
There were many questions when Tangri’s name was announced in the starting lineup, but the Mohun Bagan midfielder silenced all skepticism with a robust performance.
Playing in a defensive role in front of the back four, Tangri showed positional awareness and won the most tackles in the game (4).
Suresh Singh Wangjam [6.5]
Suresh had a solid outing, and although his impact in attack was limited, he displayed composure when in possession and tracked back to support India’s defenders.
Apuia Ralte [6.5]
Apuia frequently dropped deep between the center-backs to receive the ball and dictate the proceedings. While his performance was decent, his work rate without the ball was evident as he helped Subhasish Bose on multiple occasions.
Manvir Singh [6]
Stimac has lauded Manvir’s physicality, which played a role in his selection. Despite showcasing good movements, his impact in the attack was limited, as he was often forced to track back to prevent overloads.
Lallianzuala Chhangte [8]
Chhangte was India’s outlet in this game and he undoubtedly kept the Australian right-back on his toes. His well-timed runs, combined with his pace and trickery, provided a promising spark in the attack while posing challenges for Gethin Jones.
Sunil Chhetri [5.5]
Chhetri had a glorious chance in the first quarter of the game, but his close-range header narrowly missed the target.
Aside from that first-half opportunity, the Indian captain received very little service and had no impact on the game.
Substitutes
Liston Colaco [6]
Colaco made a nice cameo, displaying his flashy touches, but he had little impact as Australia dominated possession.
Akash Mishra [6]
Mishra made a few good runs forward in the hope of overloading the flanks, but he was frequently outmuscled and outpaced by Australia’s defense.
Anirudh Thapa [6.5]
Thapa was tidy in possession when he came on and moved the ball quickly.
Vikram Pratap Singh [N/A]
Vikram entered the game late and did not have the time to make an impact.
Naorem Mahesh Singh [N/A]
Mahesh entered the game late and did not have the time to make an impact.
