India lose 5-0 to New Zealand in first-ever match in New Zealand

India suffered a 5-0 defeat to New Zealand in their first-ever international match on New Zealand soil, in a friendly at Auckland's Go Media Stadium on Thursday. The hosts took the lead after five minutes through an own goal by defender Bijoy Varghese, before Jesse Randall struck twice in the 34th and 43rd minutes to leave India three down at half-time. Premier League striker Chris Wood headed in the fourth in the 57th minute, and Lachlan Bayliss completed the scoring with a volley in the 74th.

Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith was India's brightest performer, making several saves and stopping a second-half penalty to keep the scoreline from growing worse. The two sides meet again in the second friendly of the November window in Christchurch on Sunday, with head coach Khalid Jamil's side looking for a response. Kaith, 30, was making his first national-team appearance since last June. He made an acrobatic save from a header in the 25th minute and came off his line to deny Randall moments later, then blocked Randall's effort around the half-hour mark before palming away the rebound.

His display had begun with a flying save to deny Matthew Garbett from distance. The penalty came after Akash Mishra was penalised for handball, and Kaith dived full stretch to keep out Bill Tuiloma's spot kick in the 78th minute before gathering the rebound. Head coach Khalid Jamil made five changes at half-time, with Jay Gupta, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Mehtab Singh, Muhammad Suhail and Ricky Meetei Haobam all coming on. The return friendly is in Christchurch on Sunday, 15 November.