Saddam strikes to ground India
22 Aug 2014 5:05 AM IST
Pakistan’s goals came in the 38th and 89th minutes with skipper Kaleem Ullah and Saddam Hussein, respectively, doing the honours as the visitors avenged Sunday’s loss.
India, who had won the first friendly Sunday 1-0, were found wanting in both attack and defence as there appeared a lack of direction and focus besides poor marking that aided the Pakistani attackers.
The match was just about average in quality with Pakistan having the better say in the exchanges with the Indians failing to put together an effective move while the few chances that did come their way were wasted. Pakistan can take heart from the victory that served as a morale booster for their campaign in the Asian Games next month in Korea where the Indian team too will be in the contest.
It was a rather disappointing first half for India who seemed to rely a bit too much on skipper Sunil Chhetri and, worse still, conceded acres of space for the Pakistanis to make their moves. The home team also sorely missed the inspirational striker Robin Singh who sat out the match with a red card suspension. In the bargain, the visitors revelled in the new-found freedom to keep the Indian defence on tenter-hooks with waves of attacks that, however, lacked in sharpness to fetch goals.
Chhetri probably had the best of scoring opportunities when he unleashed a long-range shot that goalkeeper Saqib Hanif did well to fist over. Later, Chhetri set up a fine opportunity when he fed debutant Haokip Thonhkosiem whose shot was blocked by Hanif and the rebound went to Francis Fernandes, the other senior in the squad who failed to cash in on the chance.
A relieved Pakistan then launched a series of attacks and past the 38th, Lalrindika Ralte brought down skipper Kaleem Ullah just outside the box and the Pakistani spearhead made no mistake with the consequent direct free-kick that beat custodian Amrinder Singh as the visitors took a 1-0 lead.
A desperate India then went on the offensive, but their moves seemed to lack conviction and were easily parried by an alert Pakistani defence as the teams went into the break with the visitors sitting pretty. While India were supposed to chase the game in the second half, the side put little effort to keep the ball on the pitch and play some football. The defensive line panicked on more than one instance as the coach looked on dejected from the touchline.
Tempers flared late in the second half as Saddam Hussain was booked for kicking the ball away after a refereeing decision went against the visiting side. Even one of the calmest players on the field, Sunil Chhetri looked to have lost his composure as the high intensity of the game was getting to the players. The only notable attempt from the home side came when Chhetri squandered a free-kick attempt from an identical position on the pitch that allowed his opposite number to score in the first half.
Credit to the Pakistan side for maintaining their dominance in the midfield throughout the game that almost resulted in another goal in the final few minutes. Hussain failed to bury a one-on-one chance as the goalkeeper made a good save. The friendly series ended one win apiece with India winning the first game 1-0. However, the series left a lot of unanswered questions for the home side going into the 2014 Asian Games.
India, who had won the first friendly Sunday 1-0, were found wanting in both attack and defence as there appeared a lack of direction and focus besides poor marking that aided the Pakistani attackers.
The match was just about average in quality with Pakistan having the better say in the exchanges with the Indians failing to put together an effective move while the few chances that did come their way were wasted. Pakistan can take heart from the victory that served as a morale booster for their campaign in the Asian Games next month in Korea where the Indian team too will be in the contest.
It was a rather disappointing first half for India who seemed to rely a bit too much on skipper Sunil Chhetri and, worse still, conceded acres of space for the Pakistanis to make their moves. The home team also sorely missed the inspirational striker Robin Singh who sat out the match with a red card suspension. In the bargain, the visitors revelled in the new-found freedom to keep the Indian defence on tenter-hooks with waves of attacks that, however, lacked in sharpness to fetch goals.
Chhetri probably had the best of scoring opportunities when he unleashed a long-range shot that goalkeeper Saqib Hanif did well to fist over. Later, Chhetri set up a fine opportunity when he fed debutant Haokip Thonhkosiem whose shot was blocked by Hanif and the rebound went to Francis Fernandes, the other senior in the squad who failed to cash in on the chance.
A relieved Pakistan then launched a series of attacks and past the 38th, Lalrindika Ralte brought down skipper Kaleem Ullah just outside the box and the Pakistani spearhead made no mistake with the consequent direct free-kick that beat custodian Amrinder Singh as the visitors took a 1-0 lead.
A desperate India then went on the offensive, but their moves seemed to lack conviction and were easily parried by an alert Pakistani defence as the teams went into the break with the visitors sitting pretty. While India were supposed to chase the game in the second half, the side put little effort to keep the ball on the pitch and play some football. The defensive line panicked on more than one instance as the coach looked on dejected from the touchline.
Tempers flared late in the second half as Saddam Hussain was booked for kicking the ball away after a refereeing decision went against the visiting side. Even one of the calmest players on the field, Sunil Chhetri looked to have lost his composure as the high intensity of the game was getting to the players. The only notable attempt from the home side came when Chhetri squandered a free-kick attempt from an identical position on the pitch that allowed his opposite number to score in the first half.
Credit to the Pakistan side for maintaining their dominance in the midfield throughout the game that almost resulted in another goal in the final few minutes. Hussain failed to bury a one-on-one chance as the goalkeeper made a good save. The friendly series ended one win apiece with India winning the first game 1-0. However, the series left a lot of unanswered questions for the home side going into the 2014 Asian Games.
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