India's winless run extends to 12 after 1-1 draw with Malaysia in ...

The Indian men’s football team held Malaysia to a 1-1 draw in the one-off international friendly at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

Paulo Josué (19’) gave Malaysia the lead in the first half before Rahul Bheke (39’) equalised for India.

This was the record-extending 33rd match between the two Asian nations on the international football stage, with the first dating back to 1957. India have not played any other opponent on more occasions.

The result also means India are now winless in their last 12 international football matches. Their last victory, a 1-0 result vs Kuwait in the World Cup Qualifiers, came on November 16 last year.

With veteran defender Sandesh Jhingan returning to the national setup for the first time since January to lead out the side, Manolo Marquez also opted to hand young striker Irfan Yadwad a debut.

India also made a bright start and mounted multiple forays into the Malaysian attacking third through the wings. Lallianzuala Chhangte, in particular, looked dangerous down the flanks.

However, it was Malaysia who drew first blood against the run of play. The opener materialised from a mistake by Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

The veteran goalie was caught in no man’s land as he came off his line to collect a hopeful clearance from the Malaysian defence but completely misjudged the trajectory of the ball which fell well short and bounced over.

Josué was at hand to pounce on the loose ball and finished into an empty net.

The home side tried to find a response but a young and inexperienced forward line lacked the finesse to convert the chances into a goal. India, 125th in the latest FIFA football rankings, however, finally managed to break through with just over five minutes from half-time as Rahul Bheke leapt up to turn a Brandon Fernandes corner into the Malaysian goal.

Level at 1-1 at the halfway mark, both sides probed for the lead in the second half but neither side quite managed to put the opposition keeper under pressure.

World No. 133 Malaysia did threaten to sneak in a win in added time as Fergus Tierney found himself on the end of an inch-perfect cross from the right wing and had Gurpreet rooted to the spot with a glancing header, which rattled the post.

The rebound fell kindly to Safawi Bin, who skied his effort to let India off the hook.