A penalty save from captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Rahul Bheke’s first international goal couldn’t prevent Bahrain beating India 2-1 in an international friendly played at the Sh. Ali Bin Mohamed Stadium in Manama City on Wednesday, 23 March 2022.

Goals from Mohqmed Hardan and Mahdi Humaidan in either half sealed it for Bahrain, even as Bheke’s powerful header – his first international goal - had helped India restore parity in the 56th minute.

The match saw 5 players making their international debuts. While Head Coach Igor Stimac named VP Suhair and Danish Farooq in the starting line-up, Naorem Roshan Singh, Aniket Jadhav and Anwar Ali came on as second-half substitutes.

Earlier in the first-half, a dominant Bahrain were almost off to a perfect start as they earned a penalty in the 6th minute when Mohamed Marhoon’s shot hit Sandesh Jhingan’s hand at the edge of the 18-yard box. But goalkeeper and captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu anticipated correctly, diving down to his left to palm off Mahdi Humaidan’s penalty.

India tried to regroup and in the 10th minute, Liston Colaco intercepted the ball in the midfield and tried to run between his two markers. But the rival midfield was quick to react, and thwart him.

Six minutes later, the Bahrain forward line, playing it quick among themselves, broke free but Mahroon’s shot crashed off the bar. The rebound did fall to an unmarked Humaidan but in his haste, he smashed it over.

India had their first shot a few minutes later as Manvir Singh did meet Rahim Ali’s cross but the former’s header was off target.

India earned their first corner in the 29th minute when Liston, taking down a long ball from Sandesh, sped down the left flank past his marker only for the rival defence to intercept his cross, and clear it for a corner. Two minutes later, Rahim Ali was brought down as India earned a free-kick in the rival half. But both the chances weren’t able to.