AFC Asian Cup 2019, Thailand versus India as it happened: Chhetri brace gives Blue Tigers 4-1 win

Full-time and India win 4-1.

What a win, what a win! India register an emphatic win in their first Asian Cup game against Thailand.

Sunil Chhetri with two goals, Anirudh Thapa with a third and Jeje Lalpekhlua adds a fourth. What a result for Stephen Constantine and his men.

90’: Thailand 1-4 India

Three minutes of added time. India are on the verge of a famous win.

86’: Thailand 1-4 India

Pronay Halder goes off, to be replaced by Germanpreet Singh. India are four minutes of regulation time away from a first win over Thailand since 1986, and a first Asian Cup win since 1964.

80’: Thailand 1-4 India

GOALLL!! Jeje makes it four for team India. He comes on and gives Constantine’s team a fourth. The Mizo sniper puts India on the brink of the knock-outs.

68’: Thailand 1-3 India

GOALLL!! Chhetri passes it to Udanta, who lays off it to Anirudh Thapa. The Chennaiyin man chips it in the corner expertly.

63’: Thailand 1-2 India

Udanta runs down the flank, crosses it low to the keeper, Chhetri again wrecking havoc but the ball is cleared.

54’: Thailand 1-2 India

Sunil Chhetri with a headed chance off a Thapa free-kick. India are in the ascendancy here.

46’: Thailand 1-2 India

Sunil Chhetri with his second goal of the match. Chhetri chips it to Udanta, who runs to the byline and passes it to the striker. The Bengaluru FC man finishes it off with aplomb.

Half-time and it is all square, 1-1.

Can India hold on or will they move to challenge Thailand?

42’: Thailand 1-1 India

India make another foray forward, as Sunil Chhetri’s header is cushioned onto Ashique Kuruniyan, who sends it back to the skipper. Chhetri’s shot goes over.

34’: Thailand 1-1 India

Theerathon heads it in, as Teerasil Dangda’s free-kick is nodded in. Thailand are level.

27’: Thailand 0-1 India

GOALL!! Chhetri with a tottering run-up, but the captain gets his 66th international goal for team India. The Blue Tigers are ahead against Thailand.

26’: 0-0

PENALTY!!! India are awarded a spot-kick for a handball by a Thai player.

20’: 0-0

Thailand have a free-kick. It causes confusion in the Indian ranks and Anas Edathodika clears it away.

10’: 0-0

Thailand come close. Titiphan drives towards the top left corner and Gurpreet breathes a sigh of relief.

1’: We have kick-off!

06:55 pm: From Latif to Prasad to Chhetri, the appointment of Indian football team captain has a dark history. Read more.

06:45 pm:

1964 – Runners-up

1984 – Group Stage

2011 – Group Stage

How will India fare in 2019? Read about the history of India’s performances at the Asian Cup.

06:35 pm: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, one of the two survivors from 2011 and captain tonight, has words of encouragement for his side.

“The 2011 side was filled with a number of legends, all of whom were incredibly talented, and played under an incredible coach as well. However, in teams of team development and playing under the same system for a long time, I feel the batch of 2019 has the upper hand. The desire and the fire to learn defines our squad.”

06:30 pm: The tournament has its first upset! Jordan defeat reigning champions Australia 1-0. What a result for the West Asian side.

India and Stephen Constantine also cannot wait to get underway.

“The players are really looking forward to the opening match, and so am I. We can’t wait for the game to kick-off. It’s time for the show.”

06:20 pm: For India, Thailand will be the key match as UAE and Bahrain may prove too strong. The pacy Thais however, are no pushovers.

(Read preview here: Opener against Thailand is India’s biggest match)

06:10 pm: The line-ups are out. Jeje Lalpekhlua is dropped, his form has been poor this Indian Super League season. Ashique Kuruniyan comes into the line-up, as Gurpreet Sandhu, Subhasish Bose, Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika and Pritam Kotal will start in defence.

06:00 pm: Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu took his seat next to Stephen Constantine at the press-conference. The big Bengaluru keeper will captain India tonight against the War Elephants.

Earlier, the first match in this group ended 1-1 between the UAE and Bahrain.

Hello and welcome to the Field’s live blog of Thailand versus India in a Group A encounter at the AFC Asian Cup 2019 in the UAE. My name is Arka Bhattacharya and I’ll be taking you through to the end of the game.

India are hoping to win their first Asian Cup game in 55 years. Yes, that’s how long it’s been since India defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the 1964 Asian Cup.