India will take on UAE in their second group clash of the AFC Asian Cup | Photo Credit: AP India missed a lot of chances and were far from clinical up front as UAE handed them a crushing 2-0 defeat at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Sunil Chhetri had a few opportunities while Udanta Singh hit the cross-bar once failing to make the opportunity count. India pressed well in the first half but the second half was a lacklustre one from both sides. UAE took their chances scored two goals and won the game to take all three points. India vs UAE HIGHLIGHTS, AFC Asian Cup 2018-19: FULL TIME! UAE 2-0 India 23:18 IST: GOOOOALLLLLLL! Ali Ahmed Mabkhout scores the second for UAE as the hosts look to kill the game. The Blue Tigers will have a lot to ponder upon after the full-time whistle at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. India 0-2 UAE. 23:15 IST: Khalfan Mubarak Al Shamsi is replaced by Matar Ibrahim, a veteran for the UAE national team and a fan favourite. India need something magical to win this one from here as UAE have closed all doors in the midfield and have made it difficult for the Blue Tigers. India 0-1 UAE. 23:10 IST: India trailing 1-0 with final ten minutes left into the game. The Blue Tigers will certainly rue the missed chances in the first half. Jackichand Singh has replaced Udanta Singh. India 0-1 UAE. 23:03 IST: Sloppy defending from India as Pritam Kotal almost scores an own goal trying to give the ball back to Gurpreet. Another blunder from Indian defence and Gurpreet's unconvincing attempt at saving a shot from a UAE forward almost gave them the second goal. India 0-1 UAE. 22:59 IST: Substitution for India as Anirudh Thapa is replaced by Rowlin Borges. UAE have dominated possession once again in the second half but its India, who have had more chances. Shubhasish Bose is booked. India 0-1 UAE. 22:53 IST: Gurpreet Singh Sandu comes into action and thwarts an attempt from UAE. Majed Hassan replaces Khamis Esmail for UAE. The hosts have upped the ante now in the last few minutes and are looking for a second. India 0-1 UAE. 22:49 IST: Thapa's poor cross cannot meet Jeje, who wanted it a little deeper inside the box. India need to be more clinical upfront as they continue wasting chances. Meanwhile, Indian fans are roaring for the Blue Tigers. India 0-1 UAE. 22:45 IST: Oh what a chance! Udanta Singh's shot from the edge of the corner hits the bar and India are denied another chance at goal. Free kick for India. Sunil Chhetri to take it. He has his eyes set on the goal and sends it over the bar. 57 minutes into the game. India 0-1 UAE. 22:42 IST: Brilliant free kick from Thapa but the UAE goalkeeper manages to block it, Jeje takes a shot in rebound but misses the post. What a chance. Jeje could have been more patient there. India still searching for the equaliser. India 0-1 UAE. 22:37 IST: India make a substitution as Jeje Lapheklua comes on for Holi Charan Narzary. India trying to go all out attack in search of the equaliser here. UAE defenders have kept things tight here. India 0-1 UAE. 22:34 IST: 2ND HALF UNDERWAY! The second half is underway at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. India will be looking to make a comeback and equalise in the second half. India 0-1 UAE. 22:20 IST: HALF TIME! Mubarak Al Shamsi 's opener separates the two sides as the first half comes to an end. Sunil Chhetri had a few good chances up front but he will ponder upon them in the dressing room and come out more clinical. India 0-1 UAE. 22:17 IST: India got another chance at the goal in counter with Chhetri missing it by a whisker. He almost had it there, tried to cut into UAE's defence and his shot from far corner missed the post by inches. India 0-1 UAE. 22:14 IST: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL! Khalfan Mubarak Al Shamsi scores for UAE. There you have it, UAE have scored their first goal and Indian defence has been left shattered. Ali Ahmed Mabkhout beat Anas and then toyed with Jhingan before passing it to Mubarak who finished things off with a sublime effort beating Thapa on the way. India 0-1 UAE. 22:10 IST: Al-Hasan delivers a quality cross into the box but no one there to head it in, the rebound goes over the bar. Udanta has been effective on the right as he continues to trouble UAE defenders with his continuous crossing. UAE have had 68% possession so far with six minutes left in first half. India 0-0 UAE. 22:06 IST: A quick counter-attack from UAE but the finish is far from impactful as it goes sailing over the bar. 16 minutes left into the game now. UAE have a free-kick that goes over the post. Halicharan heads it out for a corner and the game remains goalless. India 0-0 UAE. 22:02 IST: Chhetri and Ashique have been combining well up front. Ashique gets a corner after he is taken down in a one-on-one challenge against a UAE defender. Lung bursting run from him after picking Chhetri's pass. India 0-0 UAE. 21:58 IST: Al Hammadi tries to break into the box but Anas is there to keep him at the bay. Anirudh Thapa clears another threatening move and passes the ball to Chettri who fails to go forward. Goalless still. India 0-0 UAE. 21:55 IST: Another great chance for India as Sunil Chhetri's header is blocked. He got between the central defenders there and grabbed on a brilliant cross from Udanta inside the box but his header was blocked and there was no one to slot in on the rebound. India 0-0 UAE. 21:52 IST: Esmaeel and Saleh push on but Pranoy Halder takes the ball after Sunil Chhetri's interception. However, he fails to find Chhetri again with his pass. India looking the brighter side so far. UAE meanwhile, looking to build on. India 0-0 UAE. 21:48 IST: Chhetri making those extra runs in the box and doing extra yards to make things happen as India look to open this UAE defence. A brilliant display of intent from India as they look to get the opener and put pressure on UAE. Goalless so far after 17 minutes. India 0-0 UAE. 21:43 IST: A great chance for India but Ashique Kuruniyan 's shot is saved by the UAE goalkeeper. Terrific save there. India have another chance from the corner as Thapa's delivery finds Jhinghan who heads ot over the post. India dominating in the last five minutes. India 0-0 UAE. 21: 40 IST: A decent opportunity for Sandesh Jhingan - unarguably the best chance of the game so far - but the Kerala Blasters defender failed to hit the target. Gurpreet Singh, the Indian goalkeeper, is putting the ball straight up for the forwards to run at but this strategy hasn't worked out well so far. India 0-0 UAE. 21: 37 IST: Both sets of players have been trying to unsettle the opposition defenders with some cheeky long balls and lobs forward. Neither UAE nor India have been able to have a good buildup so far. India created their first chance through the right win with the help of Udanta before the hosts pulled back a few players to see the ball go out for a corner. India 0-0 UAE. 21:34 IST: UAE have started better as they continue to march forward trying to penetrate the India backline. Sloppy from Sandesh Jhingan but no threat there. UAE are making their intentions clear that they will attack and put pressure on the Indians. India 0-0 UAE. 21:30 KICK OFF! The first half is underway between India and UAE at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. Initial struggle for the Indian defence there but Gurpreet Sandhu is as sharp as ever to keep the attack away. 21:25 IST: The players are out on the pitch and the stadium is packed with the home fans supporting the hosts.<doc-sep>While the result against Thailand, who have three J-League players in their ranks, was no mean feat, it will be a bigger achievement if the Indians are able to put it across the hosts who are gunning for the title. Currently ranked 79th to India's 97th, the United Arab Emirates were placed as high as 24 in the FIFA chart in January 2015. Coach Stephen Constantine will be pleased with how the second half against Thailand turned out. India not only managed to shut down a lethal Thai attack after being tied 1-1 at the break, but also threatened at the other end through quick transitions in attack. That stupendous show earned India three valuable points, a place on top of the group and a goal average of plus three. "We have a very young side here and they are excited. Of course, hosts UAE will be a different game. They are a very good side but they are just another team standing in our way," said Constantine. As far as the Indian team is concerned, Sunil Chhetri hogs the limelight wherever he goes, and the Blue Tigers will again look up to him upfront. It will not exactly be appropriate to say that Chhetri will be high on confidence after his double strikes against Thailand, which saw him go past Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in the goal-scoring chart among active international players, because that is an ingredient the Indian talisman never lacked. He is never overconfident, though. In a team sport like football, a squad heavily dependent on Chhetri would not have experienced a 13-match unbeaten run on way to qualifying for the tournament. Over reliance on the 34-year-old striker would not have seen them maul Thailand the way the did. And that is a good sign for Constantine's team, which will enhance its prospects of qualifying for the second round of the tournament for the first time in over 50 years if it is able to win or at least draw against the UAE. It is even better for the team that for all his achievements over the years, Chhetri remains grounded. Minutes after coming off the bench against Thailand, Jeje Lalpekhlua found the back of the net, and so did young Anirudh Thapa. However, the surprise package was rookie forward Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh being the livewire down wide right. Udanta, in fact, set up a couple of goals including the inch-perfect cross from right flank, which Chhetri slammed home for India's second goal. Chhetri and the FC Pune City winger had their eyes on goal whenever they were on the ball and the direct running of the latter and the technique and finishing prowess of the former left the opposition's defence helpless. More of the could be expected against a superior opponent in UAE. India can expect the UAE to come hard at them after a 1-1 stalemate against Bahrain in the tournament opener. They wouldn't be satisfied with their performances, especially in the attacking third. It was the late goal by substitute Ahmed Khalil that saved them the blushes. Midfielder Ismail Hammadi is also a key player in UAE's scheme of things. UAE will look to dominate the midfield where Anirudh Thapa and Pronay Halder will come up against a tightly-knit unit. India will also be required to be vigilant at the back as the likes of Ali Mabkhout and 2015 Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil are goal-scorers with predatory instincts in the attacking third. Mabkhout is seven goals shy of becoming UAE's all-time top scorer. The central defensive pairing of Sandesh Jhingan and Anas Edathodika will be kept busy at the back, and so could be goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. India's grand opening seem to have also left the UAE football association concerned, which has adopted a unique strategy to fill the stands at the stadium with fans of the home team. It has been reported that the UAE FA has purchased 5,000 tickets for the game against India and plans to distribute it only among the local fans on the match day for free to pack the stands with home support. India will hope to not get carried away by all these, something their coach stressed a day after the win against Thailand. "We don't go into a match expecting to win 4-1 or 5-1. However, we are not trying to get carried away with the emotion. We still have two games left and we still need another two points to qualify from the group stages," Constantine had said. "After we have qualified, we can get a little bit excited, but our primary job is still to qualify out of the group stages." Only time will tell what's in store.<doc-sep>As it happened: ABU DHABI: India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here on Thursday.Khalfan Mubarak (41') and Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (88') scored for the home team, entering the game in some desperation after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain in the tournament opener.UAE moved top of the table in Group A with four points from two matches while second-placed India still remained in the hunt for a knockout berth with three points from two outings.India had drubbed Thailand 4-1 in their opening encounter on Sunday but the Thais got their campaign back on track with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in the evening fixture.India made a positive start in both the halves and created many chances, but paid dearly for lacking the finishing touch.The Blue Tigers missed three big chances in the first half and while they created opportunities after the break too, India were denied on two occasions by the framework.On expected lines, the United Arab Emirates enjoyed possession initially but, to the surprise of many, India had more shots at goal and dominated proceedings by keeping the opposition defence busy.Sandesh Jhingan's free header off a corner by Anirudh Thapa, which was won by Pritam Kotal, went off target. India could have been 1-0 up as early as the seventh minute at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.Then, unmarked at the far post, Sunil Chhetri 's header after Thapa squared it for the second highest active goal-scorer in international football, was brilliantly saved by UAE custodian Khalid Eisa If those misses in the eighth and 23rd minute gave India the belief that they will be able to fight their fancied opponents, in coach Stephen Constantine's words, toe-to-toe, they also may have made the Blue Tigers a bit restless.And UAE, positioned 18 places above the 97th ranked India in the FIFA chart, used that to their advantage when Mubarak charged forward and latched on to a ball by Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, who ran in from the right.It was not that the Indian defence was in disarray but they would have done well to clear the ball at first instance. Thapa, the team's youngest member at 20, could not get there in time while Anas Edathodika and Jhingan also could not come in the way of Mubarak, who scored his first international goal.Entering the game after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain, UAE required full points, and the relief was palpable in their camp when Mubarak broke the deadlock.The joy would have been short-lived for the home team had the talismanic Chhetri's attempt not missed the target by a whisker in the 43rd minute, this after the Indian captain had the UAE defenders in splits and managed to cut one through one of the gaps with Eisa nowhere in the picture.Down by a goal at the break, India were not to be disheartened and made their intentions clear in the second half.Constantine brought in Jeje Lalpekhlua in place of Halicharan Narzary and the Mizo forward, who scored two minutes after coming off the bench in the 4-1 mauling of Thailand, nearly did an encore in the 53rd minute. Jeje's volley went inches off the post.Three minutes later, India again experienced the so-near-yet-so-far moment when Udanta Singh's shot ricochets off the bar.UAE got their act together and troubled the Indians occasionally and they also had one of their attempts blocked by the bar.<doc-sep>
Match ends That’s the final whistle folks. UAE have beaten India 2-0 to go top of the group. Mubarak and Mabkhout scored the goals for UAE as India wasted plenty of chances upfront. India have two good chances in the first half while they hit the crossbar twice in the second half. UAE score their second goal (88’) UAE have scored their second goal of the match as Mabkhout found acres of space inside the box and he easily beat the India keeper. UAE are on the verge of a crucial win here. India cannot create opportunity India haven’t been able to create as many chances in the second half as they did in the first and UAE are now strolling towards a win now. With just five minutes to go in the second half, one would feel that India will create at least one chance. Substitution for India Jackichand Singh comes on the pitch in place of Udanta Singh as India look for one final flourish in the last 11 minutes of the match (plus extra time if any). Al Hammadi hits the post (74’) Ismail Al Hammadi found space inside the box and he hit a thumping right-foot drive which beat the India keeper very easily. However, luckily for India, the ball crashed into the post and India remain 0-1 behind. UAE hogging possession In the last 10 minutes, Indian players have been chasing the shadows of their UAE counterparts. India are not being allowed to stitch passes together like they did in the first half and that has give the hosts more control in the second half. Indian players working hard UAE players are dominating the ball in the last few minutes as India are trying to keep up with their counterparts. India have looked dangerous on counter attacks and that remains their best bet to score. 20 minutes have been played in the second half. Udanta hits the crossbar (55’) Excellent one-two play between Sunil Chhetri and Udanta and the latter found space inside the box. He unleashed a fierce drive and ball hit the crossbar on its way out of the D. India still trail 1-0. Jeje comes close now (53’) The ball falls kindly for substitute striker Jeje on the edge of the box and he unleashes a volley after using his chest to bring down the ball. Unfortunately for India, the ball goes inches past the right top-corner. India second best in opening exchanges UAE players are dominating possession and making all the runs in trying to get behind the Indian defence. India have committed few fouls as well as referee as now called in skipper Sunil Chhetri to have a word. Second half begins The players are back on the pitch and we are about to get underway in the second half. India have made a substitution as Jeje Lalpheklua comes on in place of Halicharan Narzary. Half-time The teams sets of players head back into their respective dressing rooms as UAE lead 1-0 at the half-time. Mubarak’s goal separates the two teams at the break. India will have to come out all guns blazing the second half to have any chance in the match now. Chhetri comes close... again! India thought they had levelled the match just seconds after UAE went 1-0 up as Sunil Chhetri was sent through on goal by a through ball. There were two defenders marking the Indian skipper as he made his way into the box. Chhetri hit the shot across the ball and it went agonisingly wide of the target. UAE score against the run of play (41’) Anas doesn’t deal with a long ball and UAE make India pay minutes before the half-time. Mubarak sends the ball into the back of the net from a tough angle and India have fallen behind. The crowd erupts but Indian players cannot believe how Mubarak hit the ball into the back of the net from that angle. UAE growing in confidence In the last five minutes of so, UAE players have moved the ball around well and they have hogged majority of the possession. Al Hassan send a dangerous ball for India but the ball was cleared by the Indian defenders for a corner. UAE number 9 Mohammed Bandar then hit the side netting with a left-foot try. So far so good for India 30 minutes have been played in the first half and the match is still locked at 0-0.