Malaysia held higher-ranked India to a 1-1 draw in the FIFA Friendly football match at the Gachibowli Stadium on Monday. The draw meant that India finished the year 2024 without a single international win. India have gone winless in a year for the first time since 2014.

Visitors Malaysia drew first blood in the 19th minute when Paulo Josué found the back of the net by outsmarting India’s goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The goal happened due to a huge mistake by Gurpreet who came out of the box to gain control of a long ball but missed it. Thenafter, it was easy work for Josué who executed the job of scoring the goal perfectly.

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The Indian camp was definitely not expecting Malaysia to put the dagger in so early in the game. Skipper Sandesh Jhingan made the team pull up their socks and then thanks to Rahul Bheke’s brilliant header in the 39th minute off a corner kick by Brandon Fernandes , India equalised. The equaliser, just six minutes before half-time, gave India a major boost with 15,000-plus fans in the stadium rallying behind the team.

In the second half, both teams got their chances to run away with a decisive lead. India’s Roshan Singh Naorem got a great opportunity for India’s second goal but failed to capitalise as he struck the shot high above the goalpost. In the final moments of the match, Malaysia were unlucky when a brilliant header rebounded after striking the goal post. However, despite all efforts in the second half, none of the teams could secure a decisive lead to win the match.

In the match, India tested new faces by allowing debut of three players- Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jithin MS, and Vibin Mohanan. For his fantastic assist in the match, Fernandes was adjudged the Player of the Match.

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