AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: Battered India thrown lifeline with Rahim Ali’s late gamble

Singapore tormented India – a visitor who remained outnumbered for almost the entire second half – for 90 minutes, but in the end it was the home side who were left reeling.

Substitute Jordan Emaviwe, who inadvertently set up Rahim Ali with an undersized back pass in the final minutes, was in tears as his teammates offered consolation.

At the other end, Rahim was sheepishly congratulated by India’s unused substitutes as a 1-1 draw revived India’s hopes of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup.

Khalid Jamil’s first major assignment did not allay fears that India – third in Group C with just two points – would miss out on their third successive Asian Cup.

The source of the goals remains a major issue, and although Rahim’s goal was India’s first goal from open play in more than 760 minutes (eight matches), the manner of scoring would not have done much to boost confidence.

But for now, everything will be necessary, and Rahim’s first goal in 15 games for the national team saved India’s blushes.

However, the savior added to the irony as the striker was not originally part of Jamil’s 30-man likely list and was only added to the mix late due to another embarrassing episode in the club-country standoff.

Club versus country deadlock

Fourteen of the 23-man Indian touring party had not reported for duty at the scheduled start of training on September 20, with the head coach tasked with pulling off a miracle with an under-par squad.

The lack of options was clearly reflected in Jamil’s midfield pivots: Nikhil Prabhu and debutant Macarton Nickson, who had five senior caps between them.

The duo was overwhelmed by Singaporean midfield trio Shah Shahiran, Kyoga Nakamura and Harhys Stewart.

The smallest man on the pitch, Nakamura, a former Japan youth international who became a naturalized Singaporean in 2024, was the deep-lying midfielder, while the Indian midfielders were so far behind the pace in terms of quality and industry.

Farukh Choudhary, operating in the No. 10 role behind the returning Sunil Chhetri, could not link the midfield and attack.

Not once did the pair manage to find each other, while a 40-year-old Chhetri was a sad figure chasing shadows. Chhetri had just three touches – none in the opponent’s penalty area – and was replaced with ten minutes to go.

India offered too much time on the ball for Singapore’s centre-backs, who targeted India’s left with long balls, with full-back Muhammed Uvais unable to keep an eye on Shawal Anuar.

RELATED: Rahim Ali spares India’s blushes in 1-1 draw against Singapore in 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers

The opening goal came from a mistake in which Uvais failed to track Anuar’s diagonal run into the penalty area, with the winger setting up Ikhsan Fandi for a simple finish into an empty net in first-half extra time.

Any hopes of a turnaround were dashed just after the break when Sandesh Jhingan was uncharacteristically sent off for a second reckless challenge with more than forty minutes to play.

Humble heroes Anwar and Rahim

Fortunately for India, Singapore failed to capitalize on the numerical advantage. “We took our foot off the pedal when they took a guy down,” said Harris Harun, a dejected skipper from Singapore.

It is becoming an increasingly familiar theme with central defender Anwar Ali continuing to distinguish himself from this poor Indian team.

Without his timely interceptions and last-ditch blockades, Singapore could well have been out of sight. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu thwarted a number of attempts by substitute Ilhan Fandi to further frustrate the Lions.

India’s biggest attacking threat under Jamil came from set pieces, but Singapore managed to limit these to just a few long throw-ins.

Wingers Liston Colaco and Lallianzuala Chhangte were left out, and the lack of cohesion in attack will be a concern for the second leg in Goa next Tuesday.

Despite the handicap, India managed to dig in and put pressure on Singapore in the hope of forcing an error. Goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud spilled the ball from a free kick, but there was no Indian striker next to him to take advantage of the mistake.

Ultimately, as India’s hopes faded, it was Rahim, who gambled on a mistake with his rapid run to goal, which arose from Emaviwe’s mistimed pass.

Rahim’s perseverance was rewarded when Mahbud’s clearance hit him and fell kindly into his path for the striker to complete an easy finish, providing India with a lifeline.

Published on October 9, 2025