The Indian men's national football team suffered a 0-5 defeat to New Zealand in the first friendly match of the November window at the Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Thursday, November 12, in what was the Blue Tigers' first-ever match in New Zealand, AIFF Media reported.

Source: AIFF Media, via The Away End

5-0Final score, New Zealand vs India
5'Bijoy Varghese own goal opens the scoring
34', 43'Jesse Randall's brace
57'Chris Wood header
74'Lachlan Bayliss volley

The hosts led in the fifth minute when defender Bijoy Varghese turned the ball into his own net after a scramble in the box. Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith, making his first national-team appearance since last June, kept India in the contest with a string of saves, but Randall struck twice before the break — in the 34th and 43rd minutes — to make it 3-0 at half-time. Anirudh Thapa led India out as captain for the first time since 2018, AIFF Media said.

Kaith's penalty save spares a worse scoreline

Head coach Khalid Jamil made five half-time changes, handing debuts to Ricky Meetei Haobam and Muhammad Suhail, but New Zealand captain Chris Wood headed in the fourth in the 57th minute and Bayliss volleyed in the fifth in the 74th. Kaith then saved Bill Tuiloma's penalty in the 78th minute and kept out the rebound as well, and later debuts followed for David Lalhlansanga and Tomba Singh Haobam, the AIFF report said.

Source: AIFF Media, via The Away End

The result was New Zealand's biggest victory against opposition from outside Oceania in 45 years and India's third consecutive defeat against a higher-ranked opponent, after losses to Brazil and Uruguay in the previous window, MyKhel reported. The two sides meet again in the second friendly at Christchurch on Sunday, November 15.

Source: MyKhel