India, Sept. 25 -- At the end, a standing ovation. India soaked in the applause because Friday's fighting 1-1 draw against Panama felt like a win. Twice in the 80th minute, they could have added to Ryan Williams's 41st minute strike but first Edmund Lalrindika shanked the shot and then Manvir Singh overran Lalrindika's pass. By then, Omar Valencia had got Panama level but even after that the winner could have come had Manvir, found by a combination of Pramveer and Sahal Abdul Samad, sorted his feet.

It was that kind of an evening. One where India showed fight, discipline and desire in spades against a team that at 44 was ranked 94 places above them in the world.

As the board went up showing two minutes of stoppage-time, the Panama team ...