India make a point, but nothing more

Captain Bhutia sinks a timely equaliser for error-prone India B David

Bangalore, April 15

INDIA gave a spirited display but had to be satisfied with a 1-1 draw with star striker Bhaichung Bhutia notching up the equaliser as they shared points with a fighting Yemen in the Asian Zone Group 8 World Cup qualifiers at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday.

In a tense and hard-fought battle, India missed three sharp chances and failed to beat the stubborn Yemen defence. The visitors went ahead a minute before the break following a defensive lapse when midfielder Abdusalam Hamood Ghaled-Ghorbani was put in possession by a long diagonal pass from the centre by Ali Aboud Awad-Al Omqui. With the defence beaten, Ghorbani dribbled ahead and, before Indian defender Dhanesh could recover, he sent a long-range curling kick that dipped into the far corner of the net to beat a diving Indian custodian Virender Singh.

India struck the equaliser in the 54th minute. IM Vijayan, who came in as a substitute in the second half, floated the ball to Renedy Singh on the left flank before moving into the goalmouth to join Bhutia. Renedy wasted no time and sent in a perfect cross into the box and Bhutia’s brilliant header in the air settled in the net.

Earlier, India started on an attacking note and had a first look at the rival goal in the sixth minute when Renedy Singh after receiving a pass from Bhutia shot from outside the box only to see ball hit the horizontal. However, it was seconds after Yemen scored their goal that India muffed an easy chance. Surkumar Singh floated into the box from the right and with a couple of defenders all over him, Bhutia tapped the ball into the open space. But RP Singh was a wee bit late in getting to the ball and he tried to beat an advancing custodian but his measured instep was cleared by Ghorbani on the goalline.

‘‘We wanted three points. We played well but at the end of the day we are disappointed,’’ said Bhutia in the post-match press conference. However, he added: ‘‘The boys gave 100 per cent. They gave their best. Yemen also played and well and it was a good game. ‘‘We made many mistakes in the first half. But the boys came back in the second half and played well after the equaliser,’’ coach Sukhwinder Singh said adding, ‘‘the next match is very important for us.’’

Yemen coach Luciano De Abroue said: ‘‘One point is very important for us. India is a very good team with an organised defence and fast and intelligent players up front.’’ He had a word of praise for Bhutia and Vijayan. ‘‘We played an attacking game even after we took the lead. But since this is our away match we are satisfied with one point,’’ he opined. He expressed confidence in his team saying: ‘‘We will beat UAE in Sana’a.’’ India’s last home match is on May 20 with Brunei.