The 5-0 victory over Brunei in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers was a significant and memorable match for India as they played in Group 8 of the qualification campaign. The match, held on 20 May 2001 in Bangalore (now Bengaluru, Karnataka), was one of the highlights of the qualification campaign for India.
Date: 20 May 2001
Location: Bangalore (Bengaluru), Karnataka, India
Score: India 5-0 Brunei
Competition: 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Group 8)
Jules Alberto: Opened the scoring for India in the match.
I.M. Vijayan: Scored as part of India’s attacking display.
Bhaichung Bhutia: India’s star forward added his name to the scoresheet.
Jo Paul Ancheri: Contributed with a goal to India’s dominant performance.
Abdul Hakeem: Rounded off the scoring for India with his contribution.
India’s Dominance: India displayed a dominant attacking performance, thoroughly outplaying Brunei in all aspects of the match.
Strong Attacking Play: With players like I.M. Vijayan, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Jo Paul Ancheri in the lineup, India had a potent attacking force. These players were key figures in Indian football during that period, and they showed their class with goals that kept Brunei under pressure throughout the game.
Comprehensive Victory: The 5-0 victory was a morale-boosting result for India in the qualifiers, as it demonstrated the team’s ability to dominate weaker opponents.
Group 8 Qualifiers: This victory was part of India’s attempt to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, but unfortunately, India didn’t progress to the World Cup due to other results in the qualifiers. However, the win over Brunei showcased India’s attacking potential.
A Solid Team Performance: The victory was also a reflection of the strength and depth in India’s squad at the time. With players like Bhaichung Bhutia and I.M. Vijayan leading the charge, India showed they could compete at a higher level in the Asian qualifiers.
Player Contributions: The goals from Jules Alberto, I.M. Vijayan, Bhaichung Bhutia, Jo Paul Ancheri, and Abdul Hakeem were all important contributions, underscoring the collective effort in securing the result.
This win remains one of the important moments of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers for India, showing the team’s ability to perform against smaller nations in the region.
It also highlighted the strength of Indian football’s star players from that era, who would go on to become legends of the sport in the country, including Bhaichung Bhutia and I.M. Vijayan.
India’s 5-0 win over Brunei in May 2001 is a proud moment in Indian football history, marking one of the team’s most dominant performances in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. While India did not qualify for the tournament, this match remains an example of the potential that Indian football had at the time, particularly with a talented core of players.
