FC Bayern Munich win, but India not humiliated

German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich beat the Indian national football team 4-0 in the Audi Football Summit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi last night infront of around 35,000 spectators. The match also marked the farewell of long-time Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia.

Team India got great support from the crowds with the 'India, India' chants at some stages reaching deafening levels, but the Indians looked overawed by the occasion early on as Bayern Munich kept on the pressure. But they had to wait 14 minutes before star striker Mario Gomez gave them a deserving lead. Winger Thomas Mueller added two more in the 29th and 37th minutes to ensure FCB had a healthy lead before the break; but Bastian Schweinsteiger added a fourth in the 43rd minute, the goal of the afternoon as he curled one in beating an outstretched Karanjit Singh in the India goal.

It looked India could be in for a hammering as FCB went into the break with a 4-0 lead, which the team could not get their act together.

But after the break things changed as both coaches made numerous substitutions and once more it showed that FCB's bench isn't as strong as the first eleven plus the team didn't play with the same purpose as in the first half. But also credit to India then the young substitutes like Jeje Lalpekhlua, Lalrindika Ralte and others did a good job to keep the Bavarians without a goa in session two with India looking not as scared and vulnerable as before the break.

Then came the big moment of farewell as Baichung was substituted in the 84th minute under the thunderous applause of the crowd. Most players shock hands with Baichung before he came off. It was a very, very emotional moment for the Sikkimese sniper.

It ended 4-0 for FC Bayern Munich as India after a weak first half pulled up its socks and played much better and organised football, as FCB coach Jupp Heynckes said afterwards India were able to close down the gaps after the break.