Saudi Arabia humiliate Houghton146;s men 7-1

The goal, India’s first in the AFC Cup qualification campaign in four matches, was almost immediately neutralised when Saleh Bashir scored on the half-hour mark, beating the Indian off-side trap. Marcos Pacqueta’s team took the lead three minutes later with Eisa al Mehiani found the net.

With their initial advantage evaporating, the Indians hung on doggedly till the half-time. But the floodgates opened after the break with the Saudis piling raids.

Five goals were pumped in by the hosts who were eager to compensate for a less than stellar performance in front of their fans in the first half.

A minute from resumption of play Bashir found the net through the legs of Indian custodian Sandip Nandy. Ten minutes later Mohammed Ameen scored off a solo run before Badr al Hagbani made it 5-1 just after the hour mark with a strong left-footer from the edge of the penalty area.

Ahmed al Suwaileh, drafted in the side in place of Yasser al Qahtani, the Saudi hat-trick hero in Kolkata Saudis won 3-0, came off the bench to score the sixth in the 78th minute off a pass from Hagbani. He completed the demolition with a header with four minutes to go.

So imperious was the Saudi performance yesterday—specially in the second half—that the team never missed Qahtani and AFC Asian Player of the Year Hamd al Montashahri.

It is back to the drawing board for India as the heavy defeat may leave a scar on the side, many of whose players are still young enough to play under-23 football.

Houghton’s team faces another daunting task on October 11 when they host defending champions Japan at Bangalore.