India Left their Scoring Boots and Luck Behind

India Lose by 0-2 against UAE in Asian Cup 2019 but still in hunt to score
India Left their Scoring Boots and Luck Behind

India has now slipped to the second spot of the Group A table while the hosts, who were cheered on by more than a 40,000-strong crowd in Abu Dhabi topped the group.

India paid the price for not making the most of their chances as they lost 0-2 to hosts United Arab Emirates at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 on Thursday.

By the virtue of the victory, UAE dethroned India to take the top spot in Group A with four points while India slipped to the second spot with three points. For the hosts, Khaflan Mubarak 41st minute and Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (88th) scored in either half to put the game beyond India's reach.

Hosts UAE scored in either half of the match to beat India in the Group A match of the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

The United Arab Emirates had defeated India 2-0 in their previous meeting at the Asian Cup. It was in the group stages of the 1984 tournament.

In the first half, India created plenty of chances with forward Ashique Kuruniyan creating all sorts of problems for the hosts. Centre-back Sandesh Jhingan too came close to scoring from a corner that was delivered by Anirudh Thapa.

India was clinical in front of goal during their impressive 4-1 win over Thailand on Sunday but their finishing was far from impressive earlier in the day against higher-ranked UAE, who walked away with three points.

As many as three chances went begging in the first half. Ashique Kurniyan's left-footed effort and Sunil Chhetri's header from a brilliant cross from Sunil Chettri was kept away by UAE goalkeeper, Khalid Essa who was brilliant throughout the match.

UAE, on the other hand, were largely restricted counter-attacks as India piled on the pressure

Much against the run of play Mubarak scored through a right footed shot, assisted by Mabkhout to give the hosts the lead in the 41st minute. In the final minutes of the first-half, UAE continued to create more chances.

At half-time, UAE went into the tunnel with a slender 1-0 lead.

In the second half, Indian coach Stephen Constantine made a change early to his side, replacing Halicharan Narzary with Jeje Lalpekhlua.

India started on the attacking foot in the final 45 minutes as well. The half saw Indian talisman Sunil Chhetri and star forward Jeje missing out on converting a free-kick from close range.

However, Mabkhout put the game to bed with a right-foot shot from the center of the box that ended in the bottom left corner that sealed all three points for the hosts. The goal was assisted by Ali Hassan Salmin.

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