The Indian men's football team suffered a humiliating 0-5 thrashing at the hands of United Arab Emirates in its Asian Games campaign opener and placed itself in a difficult position to advance to the next round of the tournament, here yesterday
Wim Koevermans's side lost the plot within the first 20 minutes
Incheon: The Indian men's football team suffered a humiliating 0-5 thrashing at the hands of United Arab Emirates in its Asian Games campaign opener and placed itself in a difficult position to advance to the next round of the tournament, here yesterday.
Wim Koevermans's side lost the plot within the first 20 minutes
Be it in attack or defence, the Indians were outclassed by a far superior side in all departments of the game by the team that won silver in Guangzhou in 2010.
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A series of mispasses, the ineffectiveness on the wings and the sluggish midfield losing almost every battle for the ball made matters tough for Wim Koevermans' boys as a ruthless UAE took control of the game from the beginning of the Group G match at Hwaseong Sports Complex Main Stadium.
Staring at early exit
The defeat meant that India could fly back home early from the Games as they play another strong team in Jordan on September 22 in their second and final group match.
A loss against Jordan will knock India out of the competition in the group stage itself as only two teams will advance to the pre-quarterfinals.
Alkatheeri's hat-trick
UAE skipper Saeed Alkatheeri notched up a hat-trick (13th, 15th and 64th minutes), which included two headers with the Indian defenders looking helplessly. Al Ahbabi netted one (19th) while Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan scored an own goal (82nd).
The dominance of UAE was such that the match was as good as over within 19 minutes as the Gulf country scored three goals without reply by that time.
All the goals were conceded from counter attacks with the India back four of Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhinghan, Joyner Lourenco and Narayan Das lacking cohesion.
It all started when Alkatheeri stooped low to his left and tucked in a cross from the right. Two minutes on, the UAE captain was at it again this time diving acrobatically to meet a cross from the same area.
It was 3-0 by the 19th minute when Al Ahbabi converted from close. India tried to fight back with captain Sunil Chhetri had a penalty appeal turned down but it was too little, too late.
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