AFC Asian Cup Highlights: India 0-2 UAE

Welcome to Sportstar's live blog of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 Group A clash between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It was just not meant to be for India. India came close to scoring on many occassions but luck was not on its side. Udanta and Jhingan hit the crossbar and Chhetri missed twice. UAE looked shaky at the back during India's attack. But the 41st minute goal put the host in control. Ali Makhbout put it beyond India's reach in the final ten minutes. UAE goes top of the table.

FULL TIME

93' This is unbelievable. Another chance comes off the underside of the crossbar for India. Jhingan gets the last touch from the free-kick and the crossbar denied again.

The score could have been reversed in India's favour if the crossbar hadn't played the antagonist. Twice its comes off the crossbar.

 

88' GOAL! Ali Makhbout scores for UAE and that should be the game for UAE.  That's his 47th goal for the country. And UAE will go on top of the table

Makbhout neatly controls a long ball in the box and catches the defence napping. The Indians scramble to get the ball out but he calmly slots it into the corner.

87' Chances have dried up for India as UAE closes the spaces in midfield and India needs to find new routes.

81' Seems like India will playing many more long balls up the field trying to get to Chhetri and Jeje directly. Chhetri heads down a free-kick towards Jeje who is in the box but is held off well by the defender.

79' India has used all its three subs. Jackichand comes on for Udanta.

 

76' After a string of chances, UAE has taken control of the game and India is back in numbers.

74' Another let off for India. Gurpreet almost scores an own goal.

 

74' Almost another slip up at the back from India. The free-kick goes over most of the players in the box but falls to a lone UAE player who miscontrols it and it rebounds off an Indian player and almost goes in.

73' Clumsy challenge from Subhasish, flying into it. He gets a yellow card.

69' It's not franctic anymore and most of the game's been limited to midfield. 

Substitution for India: Rowllin Borges comes on for Anirudh Thapa.

 

62' Great skill from Gurpreet. Can you hold a cross with one hand and immediately shoot it upfield?

57' Chhetri with a free-kick but its high. No dearth of chances for India, just the finishing touch and some luck. What a spell of play!

Don't lose hope yet, friend.

 

56' Bigger chance and Udanta is so unlucky! Jeje does well to hold the ball and plays it to Udanta who plays a one-two with Chhetri and shoots but it comes off the underside of the crossbar. Talk about misfortune!

54' Another chance for India! This time its the substitute Jeje. India's free kick is headed back out but falls to Jeje who chests it and sweety volleys it but its just wide.

49' UAE's started strong and has been quick converting defence into attack.

46' And we're off again. Can India find an equalizer?

Jeje comes on in place of Halicharan. Constantine's intentions are clear.

 

At half time

 

HALF TIME

 

India started well and got quite a few chances before the host but a moment of collapse at the back for India and a good strike from Alshamsi puts UAE in front at half time.

 

43' And almost immediately India gets a chance to level it! Chhetri gets the ball at the edge of the box and is pushed out wide by the two-man defense. He could have cut it back but goes for the shot. The ball grazes past the post.

 

41' GOAL! UAE scores out of nowhere. Mubarak runs into the box, holds off the defenders and shoots from an acute angle. It beats Gurpreet and goes into the top corner. Gurpeet could have done better than that.

40' Ali Makhbout shoots as UAE tries another long range shot. Shows it has found hard to get behind India.

38' The header from the corner is just wide and that's probably the closest UAE has come. India'a chances also have started to become limited.

37' The Emiratis have been playing near the box for the past five minutes and finally they create a chance. A cross comes in and is headed out but the rebound takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.

34' UAE gets a free-kick and and Halicharan, from a congested area in the box, heads it out for a corner.

 

30' India has set up for the counter attack and so far it has pnly missed the finishing touch. Everytime the Indians get the ball they come close (excecpt when the ball is hoofed from the back).

25' India's pressing and positive approach is reaping rewards. Chhetri wins a free-kick trying to intercept a pass.

22' What a chance for Chhetri to put India in front! After a good run on the right flank from Udanta, Anirudh Thapa plays a brilliant cross into the the box and finds Chhetri whose header is straight at the goalkeeper. Closest India has come today.

21' A mistake in the box from Anas almost gifts a chance to UAE, but India clears just in time.

19' UAE has steadily gained possession back and is controlling things at the moment. But India stands firm at the back.

12' The game's starting to take on a completely different hue suddenly. India's crreating chance after chance. Jhingan's head gets on the end of another ball but the header is wide.

11' What a save! Chhetri puts Ashique through on goal and Ashique sidefoots it towards the top corner but the goalkeeper Bilal makes a brilliant save.

Come on, lads.

 

11' An outrageous but smart try from Ashique Kuruniyan who shoots it from 40 yards out seeing the goalkeeper off his line.

8' Chance for India! Jinghan's header goes high. But excellent work on the right flank by Udanta Singh and Pritam Kotal to win the corner. Most of India's chances could come from the right today.

3' Going over the last line of defense seems to be UAE's tactic early in the game. More than one long balls have been played into the box.

2' UAE on the frontfoot so early on. Two chances created in the first two minutes. India's barely touched the ball.

1' And we have kick-off! India wears its home colours.

 

Electric pre-game atmosphere

ALSO READ |  Electric atmosphere awaits India, UAE`

Here are the starting line-ups. No changes for India.

 

 

Preview

After an emphatic 4-1 victory against Thailand in its first match of the tournament, India will be looking to secure a place in the round-of-16 when it faces host UAE. It won't be an easy task though, especially against a superior United Arab Emirates side which will also be raring to go get a win after the 1-1 draw against Bahrain in its openeing fixture.

Read the match preview for everything you need to know about the fixture.

Here are some numbers from India's first match.

Elsewhere in Group A | Bahrain 0 Thailand 1: Songkrasin the hero for interim coach Yodyardthai

Take a look at snippets from India's training