NAM DINH (VIETNAM), OCT 12 : The Indian men’s football team secured a 1-1 draw against hosts Vietnam in a one-off friendly held at the Thien Truong Stadium on Saturday.

Captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a crucial save in the 11th minute, denying Vietnam a penalty after Rahul Bheke fouled Bui Vi Hao inside the box. However, the Vietnamese team, ranked 116th and ten places above India, took the lead in the 38th minute when Bui capitalised on a loose ball to score past Sandhu.

As the match progressed, India found its rhythm and began to apply pressure on the Vietnamese defence, utilising the flanks effectively. Despite Vietnam’s lead, the Blue Tigers maintained composure and staved off further threats, heading into the second half at 1-0 down.

The second half saw a more determined India, which began to penetrate the Vietnamese third with increasing frequency. Their persistence paid off in the 58th minute when Farukh Choudhary, making his first international start in three years, executed a perfectly timed lob over the Vietnamese goalkeeper to equalise.

Both teams sought to secure a winner in the closing stages, but neither managed to break the deadlock. Vietnam had a strong final 15 minutes, yet Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s reflex saves and a goal-line clearance from Anwar Ali proved vital, ensuring India walked away with a draw.

Despite the result, India is yet to record a victory in 2024, with their record standing at four draws and six losses from ten matches this year.