The Hindu : Sport / Football : Jordan dashes India's hopes

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Wednesday, Nov 01, 2006
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Jordan dashes India's hopes

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA : Indian hopes were dashed as Jordan won by the odd goal in five (3-2) in a group A match of the AFC Youth Championship here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday.

Needing a win to make it to the quarterfinals, India put up a scratchy performance. The three points from the win would now help Jordan reclaim its hopes of advancing in the tournament while India can count itself virtually out of the tournament.

India's performance gained tempo only by the second quarter of the match. It found the lead in the 26th minute through striker Branco Vincent Cardoso. The script however, went sour after that. Seemingly satisfied with a lone goal lead, the host shunned from attack and strayed into playing aimless football.

The visitor was quick to pounce on the opportunity and found the equaliser in the 33rd minute when Bader Abu Salim nodded home a freekick.

After the change of ends Jordan went into the lead. It found the goal through substitute Ahmad Nofal. The goal exposed the inadequacies in the Indian defence, which highlighted lack of anticipation and tackling efficiency.

India earned a temporary reprieve in the 77th minute when Sushilkumar Singh managed to put his knee in time to deflect a Anas Bani Yaseen clearance into the opponent net.

The winner

Jordan was in no mood to see the match end in a draw. Nofal netted the winner in the 86th minute.

On Monday in a late night match Thailand upset United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Group `B'.

Thailand went into the lead two minutes into the second session when striker Teerasil Dangda scored from an Anawin Jujeen provision.

UAE levelled with a minute remaining in the second-half when substitute Ibrahim Ali found the target on an assist from Abdulla Bloushi.

With only a minute to go from the four-minute injury time, Phonlawut Donchi headed home a swerving freekick taken by Jakkaphan.

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