WATCH FULL MATCH -- Jordan beat India 2-1 in closely fought international friendly

DESPITE TRYING HARD to hang in there, an exasperated Indian team lost 2-1 to Jordan in an international friendly match held at Amman, Jordan.

Team India, who were already missing Sunil Chhetri who pulled out due to an ankle injury, saw their troubles worsen as several members of the squad were stranded in the Kuwait International Airport for two nights due to air traffic being suspended over severe weather conditions. 

The Indian contingent asked for the match to be rescheduled but the hosts Jordan FA refused, since Jordan have another international friendly planned for Monday.

This led to head coach Stephen Constantine fielding a depleted squad with several exhausted players not even making it to the bench, including experienced strikers Jeje Lalpekhlua and Balwant Singh. India fielded a largely inexperienced squad devoid of a classic forward.

Early on Jordan won a penalty (poor handballl call by the referee) but keeper-captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a great save to keep it nil-nil. Minutes later, however, Jordan scored in the most unexpected way, with goalkeeper Shafi's long shot catching Gurpreet off position and finding the net.

India were mostly chasing the game with the hosts keeping most of the ball. But a chance came when Vinit Rai got the ball in the box, unmarked during a corner kick. He failed to take the shot in time.

India finally got the equalizer when Nishu Kumar came on as a substitute and immediately found the net. After this, India's passing game looked more lively as they tried to play the possession game for the first time in the match.

But Jordan scored again, moving up for a quick counter from a corner kick. Haddad got his name on the scoresheet as a hapless Gurpreet failed to stop the ball.

India had a chance to make it even near the end of the game when Pronay Halder fell inches short of getting a touch on a corner kick that would have seen him find an empty net from close range, and that was that. A 2-1 loss would have to do for India in their very first friendly with the nation of Jordan.

You can watch the entire match below courtesy the official stream from MyCujoo.

India are just 50 days away from the beginning of their Asian Cup campaign and although the Blue Tigers had their moments in this game, the result is uninspiring. Hopefully Constantine's boys will re-group and prepare well for their upcoming preparatory friendlies, and have a better luck during their travels.