Asian Games football: India U-23 0-5 UAE U-23 – Nightmare start for Koevermans’ side

Nightmare start for India U-23 (FILE Photo) Credit: AIFF Media

The India men’s under-23 football team made the worst possible start to their 2014 Asian Games campaign as they suffered a 5-0 thrashing against UAE at the Hwaseong Stadium in South Korea on Monday evening.

India were 3-0 down after 20 minutes with UAE U-23 skipper Saeed Al Katheeri bagging a brace and Al Alahbabi netting the other. All three goals came from UAE’s right flank as India left back Narayan Das was badly exposed.

UAE played within themselves for the rest of the game but added two more goals in the second half with Al Katheeri completing his hattrick while Sandesh Jhingan was unfortunate to score an own goal. Wim Koevermans’ side now need to beat Jordan in their final group game on September 22 to stand any chance of reaching the knockouts.

There were no big surprises in the India starting eleven as Koevermans opted for the tried and tested 4-4-1-1 formation with skipper Sunil Chhetri operating just behind Robin Singh. But East Bengal star Lalrindika Ralte only found a place on the bench as Bengaluru FC youngster Siam Hanghal started alongside Pronay Halder in central midfield.

UAE came into this game as overwhelming favourites and dominated the early proceedings with India also being forced to make a change as Lalrindika replaced the injured Pronay.

The opening goal came in the 14th minute when UAE took a freekick short and put the ball into the box from the right flank. Skipper Al Katheeri found himself unmarked and headed past Amrinder.

Two minutes later UAE had a quick break and another cross from the right was headed home by Al Katheeri.

The game finished as a contest as early as the 20th minute when Alahbabi got behind the India backline and scored easily past Amrinder.

India tried to respond as Lalrindika’s shot was blocked while right back Pritam Kotal tested the UAE goalkeeper from distance.

Robin produced a smart save from the UAE keeper after the half-hour mark and that was India’s last meaningful attempt of the half while the West Asian outfit took it easy.

The second half was all about keeping the scoreline respectable for India and it looked like that could be the case as UAE played at a very slow tempo. Lalrindika also had a couple of attempts but it didn’t trouble the UAE custodian.

UAE increased their advantage in the 64th minute when another cross from their right wing was slotted home from close range by Al Katheeri.

India created a few half chances in the final quarter of the game with Sunil going the closest but the two-time gold medalists conceded another goal when Alahbabi broke the offside trap and hit the ball past an onrushing Amrinder. Sandesh looked to have got back in time but his attempted goal-line clearance went into the back of the net.

This turned out to be India’s heaviest defeat in the Asian Games group stage since 1978 when they lost 6-1 to Kuwait. The result doesn’t eliminate India just yet as they could still turn things around against Jordan next Monday but this performance doesn’t give much hope.

India lineup: Amrinder Singh; Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Joyner Laurenco, Narayan Das; Francis Fernandes, Siam Hanghal, Pronay Halder (Lalrindika Ralte 12), Mandar Rao Desai (Semilen Doungel 71); Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh