CHENNAI: India will kickstart their Asian Games campaign as they will take on China in the opening match of the Asian Games 2023 at the Huanglong Sports Centre in Hangzhou, China.
The multi-discipline event coincides with major club events like the AFC Champions League and the beginning of the new ISL season.
The India Men’s team is placed alongside hosts China PR, Bangladesh, and Myanmar in Group A. Former Asian Games champions India are participating in the football event of the continental games for the first time after nine years.
The National anthems are on and it is an electric atmosphere here at the Huanglong Sports Centre. Sunil Chhetri leads India tonight against China.
Chennaiyin FC forward Rahim Ali is on the starting lineup for the team and Vincy Barreto is on the beach against China
Gurmeet Singh is in the thick of things as the Chinese dominate the early minutes of the game.
Scores:
India - 0
China - 0
China strikes early: 15 minutes into the game, China scores to lead against India.
Goal scored by Chinese footballer Gao Tianyi.
India linking well in midfield, Sunil Chhetri plays the ball on the left to Rahim Ali, who fails to capitalise and the ball goes out of play.
Penalty for China and a yellow for Gurmeet Singh.
Gurmeet Singh makes a fine stop to deny China's second goal.
Back to back corners for China as India looks solid in the defence at this time.
In a first, Rahim Ali makes a burst forward for India and takes a shot but can't apply the finish.
Bryce Miranda takes a corner for India, but it's cleared away easily by China.
China look shaky over the last few minutes of the play as India concedes cheap fouls.
Ayush Dev Chhetri floats a ball into the penalty box, but Indians cannot capitalise on the chance.
35 minutes into the game, the Indian team needs to make the most of the chances they get. Chinese on the other hand haven't been able to penetrate India's penalty box ever since their penalty miss.
Rahul KP threads the ball through, but nobody from the blue makes a run for most of it.
Safe hands from Gurmeet Singh, keeping India's contest alive so far in today's game.
Sandesh Jhingan links up well with Sunil Chhetri to get the ball up and forward for India but China blocks the pass-through to Rahim Ali.
Rahul KP, who also plays for Kerala Blasters in ISL, scores for India against China.
Stunning solo run along the right touchline and he rifles a shot in at the far post past the Chinese keeper. The shot ricochets in off the post. India is right back in the contest.
After a shaky first half, India came back stronger towards the end to bring scores level against China
At half-time;
India: 1
China: 1
It's half-time now.
Second half action underway and the Chinese are on the ball right away. They look promising at the start of the second half.
Gao Tianyi of China gets a yellow for the foul on Sunil Chhetri.
China takes the lead!
Goal!! Dai Weijun lets fly from the edge of the box and finds the bottom left corner, past a diving Gurmeet Singh. China is back in the lead.
CHN 2 - 1 IND
Ayush Dev Chhetri gets a yellow for India.
60 minutes on the clock as India searches for an equaliser. Sunil Chhetri hasn't seen the ball as much as he should have.
Substitution
The first change for India as Vincy Barretto replaces Bryce Miranda.
Good spell of possession for India. Rahul KP finds Rahim Ali on the left wing. He puts a cross into the box where Chhetri is waiting, but the defender clears.
Substitution
Fang Hao replaces goalscorer Dai Wai Tsun for the hosts.
China scores another goal to extend its lead.
Tao Qianglong scores!! The long shot from Wang Haijian is parried to the right by Gurmeet but Tao was in the right place to turn it in. Questions regarding offside but the referees have given the goal.
China scores again!
Tao Qianglong gets his second! Jhingan was robbed off the ball near the box and the cross in from the touchline by Fang Hao is turned in easily by Tao Qianglong.
CHN 4-1 IND
Substitutions
Three substitutions from the home team. He Yupeng, Huang Jiahui, and Liu Ruofan are the players coming in.
Substitution
Rohit Danu replaces Sunil Chhetri and Amarjit Singh is replaced by Samuel James.
90' Chance!
Danu plays it through to Barretto, who shoots, but it is blocked.
Hao Fang scores a goal and makes it five for China.
Full-time!! The referee blows the whistle.
Host China beats India 5-1 in the opening game of the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou. Rahul KP scores India's only goal in the match.
