The three-0 scoreline wasn’t a shock. Vietnam have made the 2017 under-20 World Cup finals and have been within the final spherical of the Asian qualifying cycle of the 2022 World Cup. At 97, they could be a mere seven slots above India in FIFA rankings however that, as was evident in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis on Tuesday evening, will not be the one metric to measure progress.
But, what would rankle is the way during which India leaked the objectives within the three-team Hung Thinh invitational event. Phan Van Duc struck with a tenth minute side-volley after what appeared like a communications breakdown between goalie Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and centre-back Sandesh Jhingan. Nguyen Van Toan made it 2-0 within the forty ninth minute when Anwar Ali completely misinterpret a excessive ball and the half-time substitute didn’t want a second invitation. It was 3-0 within the 71st minute when substitute Nguyen van Quyet made essentially the most of Jhingan’s headed clearance header falling favourably for him.
That mentioned, Sandhu made no less than three good saves and Vietnam repeatedly sliced by means of India’s midfield to get into scoring positions. As a consequence of an extended league and extra structured youth growth programmes, Vietnam have gamers within the decrease leagues of Europe and Japan and should not the crew India beat in the identical metropolis in 2002 and in Pune in 2010 when Sunil Chhetri acquired a hattrick. That they had extra gamers snug on the ball and competent beneath strain and within the entrance third.
India tried to remain compact and hit on the break. Ashique Kuruniyan dragged his shot narrowly broad within the twenty sixth minute after Akash Mishra, the left wingback was India’s greatest outfield participant, discovered him. Mishra once more delivered a great cross for Sunil Chhetri however his Forty fifth-minute header nearly took the paint off the upright whereas going out. India might have additionally hit by means of a counter-attack within the 78th minute when Liston Colaco squared however Brandon Williams couldn’t make the reference to a slide.
After the clear sweep within the Asian Cup qualifiers and the 1-1 draw in opposition to Singapore on Saturday, this was India’s first loss in 5 video games. This was additionally the primary time in these video games that they performed a crew ranked larger.