Asian Nations Cup Qualifiers - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Nasir to manage Indian squad:
November 18: The AIFF on Wednesday named Delhi Soccer Association secretary, Syed Nasir Ali, as manager of the national team which is leaving on Thursday morning for Abu Dhabi to take part in the 12th Asian Cup competition starting from Nov 21. FC Kochin's mercurial striker I M Vijayan will lead the 20-member Indian football team. India are placed in a difficult group 3 and the opponents are Uzbekistan, UAE, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Only one team qualifies for the finals to be held in Lebanon in 2000. Uzbekistan and UAE are the overwhelming favourites. Those left out from the probables list are Central Railway's Asif Jamal, Uday Konar of BMFC, goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee of East Bengal, Reazul Mustafa (Mohun Bagan) and Rocky Barreto of Churchill Bros. However most of the players who did duty in the SAF Games at Kathmandu have been retained. The only newcomers to the team are strikers Bijen Singh and Dipendu Biswas, and defender Falguni Dutta. Salgaocar's Alvito D'Cunha and S Venkatesh who were amongst the probables did not join the camp on account of injuries. The team will be without star striker Baichung Bhutia, who is currently playing in England's 2.Division with Bury FC and his absence will be felt.
The team: Goalkeeper: Virender Singh (Mahindras), Prashant Dora (East Bengal), Kalyan Choubey (BMFC). Defenders: Daljit Singh (JCT), Deepak Mondal (JCT), Roberto Fernandes (Salgaocar), Falgani Dutta (EB), KV Dhanesh (FC Kochin), Mahesh Gawli (FCK). Midfielders: Jules Alberto (Salgaocar), Basudev Mondal (Mohun Bagan), Rennedy Singh (EB), Ranjan Dey (EB), Hardeep Sangha (JCT). Forwards: IM Vijayan (FCK) [captain], Jo Paul Ancheri (FCK), Sabir Pasha (Indian Bank), Dipendu Biswas (MB), Bijen Singh (EB), Mohammed Najeeb (Mahindras).

GROUP 3
TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF:GA	PTS.
Uzbekistan	4	4	0	0	16:2	12
United Arab Emirates	4	3	0	1	10:2	9
India	4	1	1	2	8:9	4
Bangladesh	4	1	1	2	5:12	4
Sri Lanka	4	0	0	4	2:18	0

21-Nov-99

Uzbekistan vs Bangladesh

6:0 (3:0)

21-Nov-99

United Arab Emirates vs India

3:1 (0:1)

23-Nov-99

Uzbekistan vs Sri Lanka

6:0 (4:0)

23-Nov-99

United Arab Emirates vs Bangladesh

3:0 (2:0)

25-Nov-99

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh

1:3 (1:2)

25-Nov-99

Uzbekistan vs India

3:2 (1:1)

27-Nov-99

India vs Sri Lanka

3:1 (2:0)

27-Nov-99

United Arab Emirates vs Uzbekistan

0:1 (0:1)

29-Nov-99

India vs Bangladesh

2:2 (1:1)

29-Nov-99

United Arab Emirates vs Sri Lanka

6:0 (3:0)

November 21 - Group 3: United Arab Emirates 3-1 India - goals: 0:1 IM Vijayan (20'), 1:1,2:1 Al Kas (60',85'), 3:1 Abdul Salam Jumaa (89').
MOMENTS of brilliance by UAE striker Saeed Al Kas turned the match UAE's way against India on the opening day of the Asian Cup Group 3 qualifiers at Al Ain Stadium. UAE confirmed its three-point credentials against India who led 1-0 at half time through skipper IM Vijayan. The Indian forward struck with a beautiful curling freekick in the 20.minute. In the second half, Indian coach Sukhwinder Singh was left to ponder over his team's inability to defend a slender lead against the dominating UAE team. Al Kas equalised 15 minutes into the second half from one of captain Mohammed Ali's many corner kicks that swerved outwards catching Indian keeper Virender Singh out of his line. The UAE hero for the night then headed in the second in a flash from an innocuous looking lob past Virender who rushed out unnecessarily. This strike in the 85.minute caught the overly defensive Indians on the wrong foot but the blue jerseyed visitors tried to come back into the game immediately with better approach work and ground passing. In the dying seconds, KV Dhanesh pushed Mohammed Ibrahim on the edge of the box and UAE converted the spotkick comfortably through Abdul Salam Jumaa.
India: Virender Singh, KV Dhanesh, Roberto Fernandes, Deepak Mandal, Daljit Singh, Jules Alberto, Basudeb Mondal, Renedy Singh, Bijen Singh, Jo Paul Anchery, IM Vijayan.

November 25 - Group 3: India 2-3 Uzbekistan - goals: 0:1 Shukhratjon Rahmanonkulov (16'), 1:1 Jo Paul Ancheri (17'), 2:1 IM Vijayan (54'), 2:2 Bavshan Bazakov (76'), 2:3 Nikolay Shirshov (88').
Favourites Uzbekistan almost suffered a major setback against a spirited Indian side before coming away with a 3-2 win in the Group 3 Asia Cup Qualifiers. The Indians led 2-1 with 15 minutes left for the final whistle when Uzbekistan equalised and then with just two minutes left for the final whistle Shirshov Nikolay struck the match-winner to prevent an upset result. The thriller, which saw Uzbekistan for the first time, both yield goals as well as come under intense pressure, as a partisan crowd rooted in favour of the Indian team. In fact coach Rahimov Mahmood, who sat and watched his team cruise past Bangladesh and Sri Lanka by 6-0 margins, got up from his seat for the first time when India neutralised Uzbekistan's opening goal in the 17.minute. After that Rahimov was under so much tension that at the end of the match he had to take a couple of tablets as the pressure and tension got to him. In a very subdued manner at the post match conference, Rahimiv gave full credit to the Indian side, but said his team was ready for tomorrow's decider against UAE. The Indian players fell to the ground in despair when the final whistle went, as they had lost a game in the last five minutes for the second successive match. Goalkeeper Prashanta Dora came in to replace an injured Virender Singh, who was kicked in the head by an Uzbek forward when the game was tied 2-2 and with 10 minutes left. Earlier, the Indians served notice of their intentions with the very first attack coming from their side when Bijen Singh ended his fine run on the flank with a good shot that went wide. Bijen was outstanding both in speed and ball control and along with Vijayan and Joe Paul Ancheri, caused panic among the Uzbek defence. His brilliant display earned him the man of match award. The Indian coach Sukhvinder Singh fielded the same side that played against UAE while the Uzbeks went in without three of their two-goal scorers including skipper and play-maker Kasimov Mirdjalal. While striker Shatiskikh Maksim left the team to play for Dynamo Kiev in the Champions league, Davletov was serving a suspension. Rahimov said Shatskikh should be back for the game against UAE. The Uzbeks ran into rough weather early in the game as the Indians matched them in attack while defending strongly. Pouncing quickly for tackles and man to man marking made the Uzbeks feel choked and the absence of their three main players was also felt. Yet, they managed to take the lead following a freekick. Nikolay's attempt came off the defensive wall to an unmarked Shukhratjon, who found the roof easily. The large crowd of mainly Indian supporters were up on their feet the very next minute when a clever, long throw-in by Daljit Singh was headed across the goalmouth by Vijayan. Joe Paul Ancheri was on hand to shoot the equaliser which went in off the rival custodian. Stunned by that goal, their first after scoring 12 in two matches, Uzbeks knew they had a match on their hands. Suddenly the smooth flowing attacks of the Uzbeks dried up and for the first time their defence was being overworked by the speedy Bijen, Vijayan and Rennedy Singh. The Indians went 2-1 up nine minutes after the break when a Uzbek defender's back header was intercepted by Vijayan and the striker with the silken touch, lobbed the ball over the onrushing Safanov Evgene under the Uzbek bar. Rahimov was then forced to bring in Kasimov and he was soon in the middle of a series of attacks. Virender Singh kept his goal safe with a few good saves while the defenders continued their fighting display. The Uzbeks, definitely the superior side, got the equaliser when defender Fyodorov Andrey moved in to head home following a goal mouth melee. A little later more badluck was in store when Virender was carried off in a stretcher and then came the matchwinner for Uzbekistan with two minutes to go.
India: Virender Singh (Prashanta Dora), KV Dhanesh, Roberto Fernandes, Deepak Mandal, Daljit Singh, Jules Alberto, Basudeb Mondal, Renedy Singh, Bijen Singh, Jo Paul Anchery, IM Vijayan.

November 27 - Group 3: India 3-1 Sri Lanka - goals: 1:0 Basudeb Mondal (24'), 2:0 Rennedy Singh (40'), 2:1 Isuru Perera (64'), 3:1 Syed Shabir Pasha (79').
The Indian national soccer squad played near top draw soccer to beat their South Asian counterparts Sri Lanka 3-1 in a Group 3 Asian preliminary qualifiers match. The win secured 3rd place for India in the standings. Interestingly India were the only side to net three goals against two of the tournament's most formidable teams, hosts UAE and Uzbekistan. The defeat compelled Sri Lanka to the bottom of the table, without a single win. They scored only two goals and conceded 12. India looked more organised and dangerous. Their attempts gave the Sri Lankans some difficult moments. Basudeb Mondal put India on lead 24 minutes into the start when he fired a powerful shot that beat the advancing custodian Mohammed Illyas. A minute later Bijen Singh came close to adding the second when he was sent clear but Illyas mananged a desperate late save. But Renedy Singh made up for his colleague's miss when he cashed in on a perfect pass from Bijen Singh to score five minutes before the break. Despite being down by two goals Sri Lanka produced some inspiring soccer after the break. They attacked with determination and were rewarded 19 minutes into play when Isuru Perera switched the ball from the right flank for Kasun to score following a mix-up in front of the Indian goal. While Sri Lanka searched for the equaliser Syed Sabir Pasha complicated things for them when he scored India's third 15 minutes later. Pasha received the ball inside the box to seal India's victory with an acrobatic goal. India's coach Sukhwinder Singh was pleased that his team played well despite having had a very hard game against the Uzbeks. He said the win would boost his team's confidence before they clashed with Bangladesh on the concluding day. He hoped India could improve their position on the table. M. Karuthu, the Sri Lankan coach, said that his team comprised mostly young and inexperienced players. He said he was happy with their performance in the tournament and hoped it would help the team in coming tournaments.
India: Prashanta Dora, Falguni Datta, Roberto Fernandes, Deepak Mandal, Daljit Singh, Jules Alberto, Basudeb Mondal, Renedy Singh, Bijen Singh, Jo Paul Anchery, IM Vijayan (Syed Shabir Pasha).

November 29 - Group 3: India 2-2 Bangladesh - goals: 0:1,1:2 Mohammed Alfaz (19',49'), 1:1 IM Vijayan (25'), 2:2 Jules Alberto (50').
On the concluding day, India came from behind twice to hold SAF Games champions Bangladesh to a 2-2 draw in their last encounter of the Asian preliminary qualifiers Group 3 championship. The two outfits finished the first session tied 1-1. This result helped India to finish the tournament in the third place. India were the only team among the South Asian teams taking part in this tournment to score thrice against two formidable squads, champions Uzbekistan and runners-up UAE. Mohammed Alfaz put his team ahead after 19 minutes. He received the ball inside the box, rounded past two Indian defenders before sending a powerful shot that went straight into the right hand corner. But six minutes later Indian captain Vijayan - the best player in the side - received the ball outside the penalty area and sent a rocket-like volley that beat the goalkeeper hands down. Supported by a big mass of spectators that packed half of the stands, the two sides continued their balanced display after the break. But after only four minutes the Bangladesh captain Mohammed Alfaz was back on target to make it 2-1. But their lead did not live long as Alberto levelled the score off a mix-up in front of the goal only one minute latter. The Indian team squandered a valuable chance two minutes into the injury time.
India: Prashanta Dora, Falguni Dutta, Roberto Fernandes, Deepak Mondal, Daljit Singh, Basudeb Mondal (Syed Shabir Pasha), Jo Paul Ancheri, Renedy Singh (Hardeep Sangha), Jules Alberto, Bijen Singh, IM Vijayan.

[ return to Indian national teams site ]