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The Singapore forward, who was a thorn in the side of the Indian defence throughout the opening period, combined neatly with Shawal Anuar before slotting home and handing Singapore a 1-0 lead at the break.

Things went from bad to worse just after the restart when Sandesh Jhingan picked up his second yellow card and received his marching orders from the referee.

However, despite not creating too many chances in the second half, substitute Rahim Ali came off the bench to rescue a point for the Blue Tigers.

Rahim Ali’s introduction injected energy into India’s attack as his relentless pressing high up the pitch eventually paid off.

The Indian striker helped force an error from Singapore goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud before pouncing on the loose ball and calmly placing it into an empty net to keep India’s slim qualification hopes alive.

The Blue Tigers will face Singapore once again in their reverse AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Group C fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Tuesday.