AFC Asian Cup 2019: 3 reasons why India lost to UAE 2-0

Two goals from Khalfan Mubarak & Ali Mabkhout helped the hosts in securing three valuable points (Courtesy: AFC Asian Cup official Twitter handle)
Two goals from Khalfan Mubarak & Ali Mabkhout helped the hosts in securing three valuable points (Courtesy: AFC Asian Cup official Twitter handle)

#1 India failed to convert the golden opportunities

The 'Blue Tigers' would have been 3-0 up within just 30 minutes of the game (Courtesy: Indian Football Team official Twitter handle)
The 'Blue Tigers' would have been 3-0 up within just 30 minutes of the game (Courtesy: Indian Football Team official Twitter handle)

Sandesh Jhingan could have given team India the lead in the 8th minute of the match, but his header from a corner kick went wide. The 'Blue Tigers' wasted their first opportunity to make the scoreline 1-0 in favour of them.

In the 11th minute, Ashique Kuruniyan fired a powerful left-footer off an excellent through ball by skipper Sunil Chhetri, but the UAE goalie Khalid Eisa denied him, making an impeccable save. Another opportunity was wasted by team India as they failed to take the early lead.

Team India skipper Sunil Chhetri got the golden opportunity in the 23rd minute of the match as Anirudh Thapa found him inside the UAE box. Chhetri converted Thapa's cross into a powerful header but he just gifted the ball to the UAE custodian, Khalid Eisa. This wastage of chances surely broke the hearts of the Indians.

Team India could have almost snatched the game from the hosts in the first half. The 'Blue Tigers' would have been 3-0 up within just 30 minutes of the game and if they could have utilized all those opportunities properly, the scoreline would definitely be different. The hosts made a great come back into the game gradually and in the end, sealed all three points to get one step closer to the Round of 16.

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Edited by Kishan Prasad
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