By Upender Singh,
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: Playing against a much higher ranked opponent in an International Friendly, India went down 1-5 to Oman at the Sultan Qaboos, Sports Complex Stadium, in Muscat on Thursday. The Friendly was a part of India’s preparation for the forthcoming AFC Challenge Cup.
For India, Joaquim Abranches scored the solitary goal in the 64th minute. The goal apart, there were moments in the match where India could have scored some more. The manner in which the team missing as many as six first-team players from the starting XI showed character and created openings, deserves praise.
Joaquim’s goal had teamwork written all over it. A Francis Fernandes cross drew the rival goalkeeper Ali Abdullah out of his line and substitute Rahim Nabi pounced on it to head it to a Joaquim Abranches to dive and head it in.
Abranches had another chance soon after but his powerful shot from the top box missed by inches. Another show also missed narrowly – Jewel Raja’s first-timer late in the first half.
These two chances apart the Indians did initiate and interchange well for a brief period. Sushil Singh also had his shot saved by Abdullah.
But Oman were the superior side. For the hosts, Ismail al Ajami scored a brace while Mohamad al Gasani, Hasan Rabea and Abdullah Thuwaini scored one apiece.
The start for India was not good. Two defensive lapses within a span of two minutes saw India concede two within the first seven minutes. First, Gourmangi Singh couldn’t leap enough to prevent Mohamad al Gasani form heading it in and then, the back-four left a yawning gap in the inner box for Ismail Alajmi to tap in from close.
Those two defensive lapses set the tone for the match, something from which the team never recovered. Changing over, it stayed the same as towards the fag end of the match, India conceded the last two goals within a span of three minutes.
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: Playing against a much higher ranked opponent in an International Friendly, India went down 1-5 to Oman at the Sultan Qaboos, Sports Complex Stadium, in Muscat on Thursday. The Friendly was a part of India’s preparation for the forthcoming AFC Challenge Cup.
For India, Joaquim Abranches scored the solitary goal in the 64th minute. The goal apart, there were moments in the match where India could have scored some more. The manner in which the team missing as many as six first-team players from the starting XI showed character and created openings, deserves praise.
Joaquim’s goal had teamwork written all over it. A Francis Fernandes cross drew the rival goalkeeper Ali Abdullah out of his line and substitute Rahim Nabi pounced on it to head it to a Joaquim Abranches to dive and head it in.
Abranches had another chance soon after but his powerful shot from the top box missed by inches. Another show also missed narrowly – Jewel Raja’s first-timer late in the first half.
These two chances apart the Indians did initiate and interchange well for a brief period. Sushil Singh also had his shot saved by Abdullah.
But Oman were the superior side. For the hosts, Ismail al Ajami scored a brace while Mohamad al Gasani, Hasan Rabea and Abdullah Thuwaini scored one apiece.
The start for India was not good. Two defensive lapses within a span of two minutes saw India concede two within the first seven minutes. First, Gourmangi Singh couldn’t leap enough to prevent Mohamad al Gasani form heading it in and then, the back-four left a yawning gap in the inner box for Ismail Alajmi to tap in from close.
Those two defensive lapses set the tone for the match, something from which the team never recovered. Changing over, it stayed the same as towards the fag end of the match, India conceded the last two goals within a span of three minutes.
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