SINGAPORE– A last-minute strike from Rahim Ali rescued India from defeat, sealing a 1-1 draw against Singapore in their third-round match of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at the National Stadium in Kallang on Thursday.
The result lifted India to third place in Group C with two points from three games, while Singapore remained top with five. The hard-fought contest swung on two key moments — Ikhsan Fandi’s first-half goal for Singapore and Rahim Ali’s dramatic equaliser in stoppage time.
Singapore controlled the early exchanges, driven on by an energetic home crowd, and their pressure paid off in first-half stoppage time. Fandi, who also scored against India in their 2022 meeting, linked up well with Shawal Anuar before firing past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to put the hosts ahead 1-0.
India’s night worsened shortly after halftime when defender Sandesh Jhingan received a second yellow card for a late challenge, forcing his side to play the final 43 minutes with ten men. The dismissal saw India retreat into a defensive shell, fending off wave after wave of Singapore attacks.
But late complacency from the hosts opened the door for India. Substitute Rahim Ali, introduced to inject pace and pressure up front, pounced on a misplayed pass from Singapore goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud in the 90th minute. With composure beyond his years, the 24-year-old forward rolled the ball into an empty net to notch his first senior international goal and secure a valuable point for India.
The equaliser prevented a second consecutive loss for the Blue Tigers and kept their qualifying hopes alive. India and Singapore will face each other again on October 14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa — a return fixture that could prove decisive in determining Group C’s final standings. (Source: IANS)
