Dubai: Indian football team suffered yet another humiliating defeat as it lost 0-5 to United Arab Emirates in its third international friendly match of the month, being played as part of the 2011 Asian Cup preparations, here on Thursday.
The third successive loss of the month was also the team's seventh in nine international friendlies played so far as part of preparations for the tournament to be held in Doha from January 7-29 next year.
Bob Houghton's boys had lost to Asian Champions Iraq 0-2 on November 11 and 1-9 to Kuwait on November 14. They had lost 3-6 to Yemen and 0-1 to Hong Kong in Pune last month before beating Vietnam 3-1 at the same venue.
In September, they had beaten Namibia 2-0 in New Delhi after losing 0-1 and 1-2 against Thailand in Bangkok and New Delhi, respectively.
UAE scored through Saed Al Kas (15th), Amer Mobarak (35th), Ali Al Wahebi (61st and 73rd) and Ahmed Jumaa (72nd) at the Al Wasl Stadium.
Al Kas opened the scoring as he headed in a cross from the left by Youseef Jaber and then Amer Mobarak headed in from a corner kick in the 35th minute as the UAE led 2-0 at half time.
UAE had overwhelming possession in the first half and they did all the attacking with the ball remaining at the Indian half for most part of the match.
The Indians, still without regular captain Bhaichung Bhutia and his strike partner Sunil Chhetri due to injuries, could not match their rivals' superior skill and speed. They hardly had a clear look at the opposition goal in the whole of 90 minutes.
UAE pumped in three goals in the second half with Ali Al Wahebi finding the target just after the hour mark before two goals came inside a minute.
First, Ahmed Jumaa curled in a free-kick from just near the edge of the box to the Indian goal in the 72nd minute and in the next minute, Al Wahebi slotted home after outrunning Mahesh Gawli, who replaced Syed Rahim Nabi, taken off the field in the 28th minute due to injury.
Comments
0 comment