Injury-time penalty sinks India’s Asian Cup hopes
SHARJAH: India exited from the Asian Cup through a 91st minute penalty which Jamal Rashid converted to take Bahrain through to the pre-quarter finals at the Al-Sharjah Stadium here on Monday. Ironically, the challenge that led to the penalty came from Pronay Haldar who otherwise put in a superb show. After three games, India ended on three points to finish last in Group A after UAE drew Thailand 1-1.
A reflex save by Gurpreet Singh off an 84th minute cornerkick followed up by a Pritam Kotal clearance had kept India in the hunt.
Minutes earlier, Bahrain had Abdulla Yousuf Helal heading into upright in the 71st minute during a spell of sustained pressure. India also absorbed an indirect free-kick inside the box in the 74th minute after referee Ravshan Irmatov deemed – somewhat harshly perhaps – that leftback Subashish Bose had back-passed to the goalkeeper. Haldar’s leg kept it out at the expense of a corner-kick which was wasted. After the worst possible start they could have expected with central defender Anas Edathodika hobbling off in the third minute and when it looked like they would be run over, India settled down.
Crucial to that was the kind of confidence Sandesh Jhingan inspired at the back despite losing his partner at the heart of the defence and how Haldar, named
skipper for the night, marshalled the centre of the midfield against the more physical opponents. Haldar kept it goalless with a headed clearance to an Ahmed Juma header off a corner-kick.
So with Salam Ranjan Singh, who made a critical interception in the 41stminute, India held on. Not just held on, they showed composure with the ball that isn’t often associated with India at the international level.
Cue the way India rolled the ball from right to left, Kotal finding Ashique Kuruniyan during an early buildup.
Gurpreet Singh averted an early scare with a parry that didn’t go to Bahraini feet and India caught their opponents offside thrice in the first quarter.
Knowing that defending would be key to progress, India opted for solidity in midfield with Rowllin Borges starting in place of the more creative Anirudh Thapa. Udanta Singh stayed in his half to help Pritam Kotal cut out Bahrain’s initiatives on the left – he slid in and made a superb tackle on substitute Abdulla Yusuf soon after the hour mark – and it was left to Ashique Kuruniyan to plough a lone furrow.