India Faces Stalemate Against Malaysia in International Friendly

In a closely contested international friendly football match, the Indian men’s football team ended in a 1-1 draw against Malaysia at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. The match, held on Monday, saw India continue their winless streak under the new head coach, Manolo Marquez, marking their fourth consecutive match without a victory in 2024.

Malaysia opened the scoring with an early goal from Paulo Josue, setting the stage for a competitive encounter. India managed to equalize through Rahul Bheke, who found the back of the net to level the match. Despite the home advantage, India remained unable to secure a win, extending their winless run.

This particular match marked the 33rd meeting between India and Malaysia on the international stage, with their rivalry dating back to 1957. Both teams have historically been evenly matched, each securing 12 victories, and drawing eight matches in total. Their last encounter in the 2023 Merdeka Cup semi-finals saw Malaysia triumph with a 4-2 scoreline.

In this game, Manolo Márquez, appointed following the team’s failure to advance in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers under Igor Stimac, was seeking his first win at the helm. Márquez fielded a 26-member squad, including veteran defender Sandesh Jhingan, who returned to the national setup after recovering from an injury.

Meanwhile, Malaysia, also under new management, appointed Pau Martí as head coach after parting ways with Kim Pan-gon. Both Marquez and Martí, who share a common background in the Barcelona soccer setup, navigated their teams through a tactical face-off.

India’s squad faced key absences, with midfield anchor Anirudh Thapa ruled out due to injury. Thoiba Singh was called up as Thapa’s replacement, alongside four other newcomers—Vibin Mohanan, Jithin MS, Irfan Yadwad, and Hmingthanmawia Ralte—who all had the opportunity to earn their international debuts.

India remains ranked 125th in the FIFA world rankings, whereas Malaysia follows closely at 133rd. Despite recent challenges, Malaysia entered the match with momentum, following a decisive 3-1 victory over Laos.

The India vs Malaysia football match was made accessible to fans via live streaming on JioCinema and telecast on the Sports 18 3 TV channel in India.