IND vs MYA Highlights Mens Football, Group Stage, Asian Games 2023: India go through to the Round of 16 after being held by Myanmar to a stalemate

India - Not pretty but effective

That's all for tonight's coverage of the Indian football team's sojourn in the Asian Games 2023. This is Sayantan Guha signing off and I hope to see you tune in for the highly-anticipated clash on September 28.

India - Not pretty but effective

Considering the abysmal preparations ahead of the tournament or rather the lack of any, very would've been surprised if India failed to clear the group-stage challenge in the Asian Games. But recovering from the 5-1 hammering from China in their opener, the Blue Tigers have managed to roar back with two crucial results. First, they edged past Bangladesh thanks to Sunil Chhetri's penalty, and then tonight the old guard once again weaved his magic from the spot to ensure India a draw against a resilient Myanmar outfit.

Igor Stimac's men will now face Saudi Arabia in the Round of 16 and it will be an incredibly difficult challenge.

INDIA ARE THROUGH TO THE ROUND OF 16

90' FULL-TIME: MYANMAR 1-1 INDIA

90+6' India are inching towards the Asian Games 2023 knockout berths! Minutes left now.

Myanmar 1-1 India

90+5' No, more changes remaining for Myanmar as Myat Soe Min comes on for skipper Zaw Win.

Myanmar 1-1 India

90+2' Final throw of dice for Myanmar: Naing O replaced by Chit Aye.

Myanmar 1-1 India

90' Six minutes of additional time to be played.

Myanmar 1-1 India

89' A minute and a bit of additional time is all that is left now for India to navigate through. Myanmar need a goal here while the Blue Tigers will be eager to keep the scoreline unaltered.

84' Substitute Naing is booked for his mistimed tackle on Chingelsana Singh.

MYANMAR 1-1 INDIA

80' While India are well positioned to secure the second spot in Group A, Igor Stimac will be in a world of worry. A goal for Myanmar here would absolutely send the warning bells ringing. The Blue Tigers need to find a goal somewhere!

78' Substitutions for India: Rohit Danu and Vincy Barretto come on for Samuel Kynshi and Rahim Ali.

MYANMAR EQUALIZE!

74' This is what India wouldn't have wanted. The Blue Tigers' lead has been wiped off as Yan Kyaw heads a cross past Dheeraj Singh.

68' Substitutions for Myanmar: Khun Kyaw and Htet Phyoe replaced by Wai Lin and Yan Kyaw.

The curious case of Rahim Ali

66' India are trying to control the proceedings rather than trying to do something rash. As long as the Blue Tigers have possession, Myanmar will find out difficult to alter the scoreline.

The curious case of Rahim Ali

63' Despite getting to the end of a couple of gilt-edge opportunities, Rahim Ali has lacked the panache to put away the chances. He has had ample matches in the past few games, but Ali's lackluster decision-making hasn't improved. Even when it comes to the first goal, the Chennaiyin forward was lucky to come away with a penalty as he had almost squandered the opportunity if not for the clumsy opposition challenge.

Can Stimac continue to trust him tonight, when India's need for a second goal is paramount?

STUNNING SAVE FROM DHEERAJ!

60' Zwe Khant has a crack from a distance and it's an inch-perfect dipping effort. But Dheeraj manages to parry it away with an acrobatic punch.

58' A delicious through ball from Aniket Jadhav releases Gurkirat Singh, who now has an opportunity to run at the ragged opposition defense. But the Myanmar defender does well to outmuscle the MCFC attacker.

56' More changes for India: Aniket Jadhav comes on for Bryce Miranda.

54' Samuel Kynshi presides over the resulting corner and finds Chhetri inside the box. But the talismanic forward's volley is skywards.

RAHIM ALI SQUANDERS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY!

53' A delightful lobbed ball sets Rahim Ali through on goal but the misfiring CFC forward slams his effort into the Myanmar goalkeeper and deflects for a corner. India need to take their chances soon. Too quickfire chances and both have been wasted.

A CHANCE GOES BEGGING FOR INDIA

52' Gurkirat Singh is through on goal but his effort is crucially parried away by Aung. Maybe the chance came a little to early for the young forward.

50' Myanmar have had a controlled start to the half but the Indian defense is switched on.

46' First substitution for India: Rahul KP, already on a yellow, is taken off and Gurkirat Singh replaces him.

45' SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!

Myanmar gets the ball rolling for the final half of play.

Should Rahul KP be subbed off after the half-time break?

For the Blue Tigers, despite the lead, the concerns have steadily grown due to Rahul KP's approach on the pitch. He has been brash off the ball, clumsy going into challenges. already on a yellow card, and is very lucky to still be on the pitch. Either Igor Stimac has to ensure that the winger understands the gravity of the situation or he needs to be benched immediately. India can't risk going a man down with just a single goal in their bag.

HALF-TIME: MYANMAR 0-1 INDIA

After a sketchy start to the half, where India were overwhelmed in the initial exchanges by Myanmar's break, the Blue Tigers managed to pull ahead in the 23rd minute, thanks to a defensive error. Rahim Ali latched on to a loose backpass from an opposition defender but almost squandered the opportunity. But a clumsy challenge from behind brought the Indian forward down and ever-reliant Sunil Chhetri tucked home the resulting penalty.

The Chinthe, however, haven't waved the white flag yet and created plenty of chances. But some resilient defending from India have managed to keep their narrow lead intact.

45+3 Heart in the mouth moment for Rahul KP. Already on a yellow, the KBFC winger wrestles a Myanmar player into the ground. However, the referee decides to give him one final warning rather than the marching orders.

45' Two minutes of additional time to be played.

43' Myanmar catches the opposition on the break but Bryce brings down Zaw WIn to thwart the dangerous-looking attack. Lucky to escape without a card.

42' Another corner for the Blue Tigers and Samuel Kynshi stands over. His inswinging ball, however, is punched away by the opposition keeper.

39' Another freekick for Myanmar and Wai delivers a rapid cross towards the first post but Sunil Chhetri clears it away yet again.

35' A corner kick for India and Samuel Kynshi delivers the ball into the penalty box. Jhingan attempts to head it towards the goal, but the ball is deflected off another player before Aung effortlessly catches it.

32' Myanmar have been rapid on the break and it has become evident that India cannot rely on their one-goal lead. The challenges from the Indian defenders have come in slightly late, and Igor Stimac's men have to be careful.

26' Myanmar losing a bit of their composure here as their skipper Thein Zaw Wein brings down Bryce on the left flank. The referee immediately brings out a card.

CHHETRI SENDS INDIA AHEAD!

13' Evergreen. Ever-reliant. Eternal. Sunil Chhetri steps up to take the penalty, picks his spot, and calmly tucks it into the bottom corner past Aung without breaking a sweat. India are leading 0-1 now and it's all about safeguarding the scoreline now.

PENALTY FOR INDIA

22' Rahim Ali chases a loose back pass and gets through on goal, while it looks like the CFC forward has squandered the opportunity, a Myanmar defender brings him down from behind and the referee points to the spot immediately.

19' India has been on the back foot since the first whistle. They need to build a foothold in the game and that is to be immediately.

Myanmar on the attack

17' Myanmar string together a couple of passes before sending one of their attackers through down the left flank. But Sandesh Jhingan stepped in with a crunching challenge from behind to deny the opposition from having a free pass. Moments later, Amarjit puts in another strong tackle in the box to once again deny the home side.

The Chinthe are growing into the tie steadily.

India 0-0 Myanmar

15' A crunching challenge from Amarjit Singh Kiyam and he catches more of the man than the ball. Zaw Win steps up to take the resulting setpiece but his effort is narrowly wide of the target.

India 0-0 Myanmar

14' Bryce Miranda once again turning into India's most potent attacking outlet. The winger makes a grafting sprint down the left flank while skipping past a couple of opposition challenges. However, his final cross from deep isn't of the highest caliber and is comfortably gobbled up by Aung Zin.

8' India concedes a free kick in a dangerous position and Wai's effort is only cleared away by Sunil Chhetri for a corner. The Blue Tigers manage to navigate past the tricky situation.

7' Early booking for India as Rahul KP is shown a yellow card for his pull on Zin Hein who burned the KBFC winger for pace down the left flank. Myanmar are threatening the Blue Tigers on the break.

India 0-0 Myanmar

2' India with an attacking start as Narender Gahlot whips a long ball aiming to find Rahim Ali. But the Myanmar defense was quick to thwart away the danger.

1' KICK-OFF!

The teams are out in the middle and India get the crucial match underway.

Can India qualify for the Asian Games knockout stage if they lose against Myanmar?

If the Blue Tigers slip up against Myanmar their chances of qualification will escape their own hands. Although India will definitely finish third ahead of Bangladesh, that might not be enough.

Before picking out the best-ranked third-placed teams, the results against the fourth-placed teams in four-team groups are excluded, in order to rank them with the same number of matches. This means that India's victory against Bangladesh might not even be considered if they finish third.

What does India need to do to finish second in Group A?

The equation is pretty simple for the Blue Tigers when it comes to their chances of finishing second in the group. A victory or draw against Myanmar will ensure that they stay ahead of Chinthe in the standings, thanks to their goal-scored tally.

IND vs MYA Live Updates: Myanmar's playing XI

Zin Nyi Nyi Aung, Thet Hein Soe, Kaung Htet Paing, Kwe Khant Min, Hein Zeyar Lin, Zaw Win Thien, Kar Kyaw, Oakkar Naing, Htet Phoye Wai, Khun Kyaw Zin hein, Nay Moe Naing