Singapore 1 (Ikhsan Fandi 45+1')
drew with 
India 1 (Rahim Ali 90')

Soumo Ghosh
AIFF Media Team

SINGAPORE: In a dramatic encounter with grit and late heroics, 10-man India forced a 1-1 draw against hosts Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C match at the National Stadium, Singapore, on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

Rahim Ali emerged as the hero as he scored his first-ever goal for India, grabbing a 90th-minute equaliser, after Ikhsan Fandi had handed Singapore the lead in first-half stoppage time.

India were forced to play nearly the entire second half with a man down after Sandesh Jhingan was sent off in the 47th minute. But in a game where India struggled for possession and momentum, they found a way to snatch a vital point at the death, thanks to their opportunism, patience, and also a Singaporean blunder.

The 1-1 draw lifted India into third place in Group C, with two points from three matches. Hong Kong, who defeated Bangladesh 4-3 later in the day, are at the top with seven points. Singapore have five, while Bangladesh have a solitary point. Now halfway through the qualifiers, the Blue Tigers' fate rests not only on winning all remaining games but also on favourable results from other fixtures. India will face Singapore again on October 14 in the fourth matchday in Goa.

The Blue Tigers began brightly, pressing Singapore’s backline with early intent. Their first real opportunity arrived in the 15th minute when Liston Colaco delivered a free-kick into the box, only for Rahul Bheke to glance his header wide of the post. Despite that burst, India soon began to falter.

Singapore grew into the game and asserted control, enjoying 63% possession and dictating the tempo. India’s attempts to keep pace faded as their midfield began to retreat deeper. Head coach Khalid Jamil’s defensive setup forced India to sit back, soaking up pressure and hoping for a counter-attack.

The breakthrough for the hosts came in first-half stoppage time. Singapore captain Hariss Harun launched a precise long ball from deep midfield. Winger Shawal Anuar, showing blistering pace, outmuscled Muhammed Uvais, controlled the ball with a deft first touch, and then unselfishly squared it to Ikhsan Fandi, who slotted it past India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and into the empty net. Singapore went into the break 1-0 up, buoyed by a slick move and a clinical finish.

Things went from bad to worse for India as Sandesh Jhingan was dismissed in the 47th minute after receiving a second yellow card for blocking Fandi with a raised arm. Down to ten men, India’s attacking ambitions took a backseat as survival became the priority.

India still carved out a rare chance in the 62nd minute. Colaco dribbled into the box and saw his shot blocked. The rebound fell to Nikhil Prabhu, whose volley lacked venom and was easily gathered by Izwan Mahbud in the Singapore goal.

The hosts could have sealed the game in the 73rd minute when Fandi broke free on the left. But Sandhu, showing his experience, rushed off his line and pulled off a brave save to keep India in the match.

With Singapore looking to wind down the clock and India running out of ideas, coach Khalid Jamil threw on his final substitutes in a desperate bid for an equaliser. That gamble paid off.

In the 90th minute, disaster struck for Singapore. Jordan Emaviwe attempted a back-pass to his goalkeeper. The ball lacked power and direction. Rahim Ali, alert and hungry, latched onto the loose ball as Mahbud scrambled to intercept. The Singapore keeper misjudged the weight of the pass, and the ball ricocheted kindly onto the foot of Ali, who slotted into the unguarded net.

India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK, C), Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Nikhil Prabhu (Sahal Abdul Samad 68'), Liston Colaco, Sunil Chhetri (Rahim Ali 79'), Macarton Louis Nickson (Deepak Tangri 68'), Farukh Choudhary (Hmingthanmawia Ralte 53'), Lallianzuala Chhangte (Udanta Singh Kumam 79'), Muhammed Uvais.