UAE beat India in Pulsating AFC Asian Cup Match - Highlights

Hello and welcome to our live blog. Not to sound too optimistic here, but it is difficult to look past Thailand’s win against Bahrain earlier today, and not feel that warm fuzzy feeling coursing through your body.

Because, the math adds up. India beat Thailand. Thailand beat Bahrain. Bahrain drew with the UAE. So logically…

Jordan leads Syria

But, football and logic have never been particularly happy bedfellows, as several teams have made a habit of proving over the last couple of years.

India vs UAE it is then. A fixture that was played last in a 2011 World Cup qualifier at the Kanteerva Stadium in Bangalore, where India roared back from a two goal deficit to equalise through Jeje Lalpekhlua and Gourmangi Singh in the 90th minute of the game.

Last minute goals then. If you can somehow disregard the obvious favouritism we have reserved for all of India’s goals against Thailand, you may have noticed that the Asian Cup has been delivering some absolute brilliance. This dead ball match winning beauty from Iraq’s Ali Adnan (in the 90th minute no less) is definitely a contender for the best of the best. Just look at the chill in the man as he lines it up. Messi who.

Chill? Not always. Few will remember what is considered now a fairly regulation finish by Tsuyoshi Kitazawa in 1992, but once you see the celebration you will never forget it. What hair. The 1992 Asian Cup was Japanese football’s renaissance, and we are willing to bet Kitazawa’s hair had something to do with it.

Full-time score: Jordan 2-0 Syria

Jordan become the first team to go through to the quarters. They took out the defending champions in the first game and this result keeps them perfect in the Asian Cup.

Just to clarify, today’s captain is THE captain, Sunil Chhetri.

0' And we are underway... UAE get things underway

UAE’s livewire No. 7 Ali Mabkhout is a Zinedine Zidane fan. Fair enough.

This coming in from former India captain Gouramangi Singh: “These moments are filled with emotion. The overwhelming thought is that you’re living a dream, I guess. We could hear Sunil belting out the national anthem on the pitch. Different players express themselves in different ways, but the emotion is the same. Playing for your country is the ultimate. Once you reach at that level representing your country, one would look forward and wait for these big matches in competitions that mattered a little more. Some fulfilled their dreams and some not. Personally I love the whole process and above all this if you are leading the team, you feel the extra responsibility and want to see that team stick together through the situations and come out having given a good example of themselves.”

1’ UAE kick off and kick it about for a bit very delicately. A cross from the left is dealt with by Gurpreet who punches it clear.

3’ Mubarak releases Mabkhout through the middle, with a superb chip, but the striker can’t bring it under control. India breathe.

6’ Eisa does something incredibly absurd, sprinting about 30m to catch a ball definitely going out of play. Once it does, he tries to delay India’s restart by knocking it away. The referee has a word with him. On another day, at another time, it would’ve been a yellow.

India will look to survive this initial onslaught as they did against Thailand. And just like that game they will not expect much possession.

8’ Great strength from Udanta to hold off two UAE defenders and allow supporting attackers to get into the game. It has led to a corner.

9’ Off the subsequent corner Jhingan directs falling header over the bar. He was clear and in a bit of space. That was definitely a chance.