AFC Asian Cup 2019, India 0-2 UAE: 5 Talking Points

#2 Unlucky India

Chhetri had a couple of gilt-edged chances in the first-half

Really, India could've been out on the pitch for 180 minutes tonight and still have not scored a goal. They really could not have done anything more from a chance-creation perspective.

Ashique Kuruniyan had the first chance of the night when Sunil Chhetri slipped him through one-on-one with Khaled Eisa, but the UAE custodian pulled off a fabulous save. Sandesh Jhingan also should've scored off two set-pieces, but didn't get his headers on target.

Sunil Chhetri, India's captain on the night will also be kicking himself. He was put the ball on the plate by a superb ball from Anirudh Thapa, and his header was straight at Eisa in goal, when he really should have put it either side of the 'keeper.

He also had a chance straight after Khalfan had put UAE ahead when he got on the end of a long punt from Gurpreet, but put his shot just wide.

Udanta Singh and Jhingan hit the crossbar in the second half, as well. Udanta's rasping drive after a one-two with Chhetri had Eisa beaten for all money. And so did Jhingan's redirect off Rowllin's free-kick.

On another day, India convert a few of those chances, but that's what you get in football, and Constantine will have to pick the team up and hope to maintain similar performance levels against Bahrain.