India which had lost to Iraq 0-5 in its opening match, is virtually out of the reckoning for a berth in next year’s AFC championships. Only the group winner and runner-up will get automatic qualifications.

India started on a positive note and made a few good moves through Lalrindika but could not convert the chances into goals.

With a large contingent of local Kurdish fans behind India, Shilton D’Silva put India ahead in the 28th minute. Deepak Devrani passed the ball from a free-kick to Rozama on the left flank. Rozama moved up and sent a curling cross to Shilton who neatly headed it home to give India a 1-0 lead.

Saudi Arabia equalised in the 55th minute when a clearance from Deepak Devrani was misjudged by the Indian custodian and the ball found the back of the net resulting in a self goal.

The Indians were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when Vishal Kumar earned his second yellow card of the match. The Saudis seized this advantage and its strike combination of Yahya Hussain, Abdullas Ibrahim, Mohammed Yahya and Yasir Hussain troubled the Indians who were forced to go on the defensive.

India conceded a goal in the 90th minute barely a few second away from the final whistle through Abdulla Ali and then Saudi substitute Muhannad Hamed scored in the fourth minute of injury time. — PTI

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