Oman defeated India 5-1 in an international friendly played on Muscat on Thursday.Indian National football team is currently on tour of gulf region where they will play another friendly against Azerbaijan in Dubai on February 27, 2012. India is on preparation for upcoming AFC Challenge Cup 2012 to be held in kathmandu .A clueless India were thumped 5-1 by Oman in an International friendly played in Muscat on 23rd February at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
The Blue Tigers were left shell shocked by a quickfire double strike by Oman at the start of the game, with Mohd. Al Ghassani and Ismail Al Ajmi scoring in the 5th and 7th minute respectively. Al Ajmi doubled his tally 13 minutes into the second half before Joaquim Abranches pulled one back in the 64th minute to give India some hope.
However Hasan Rabie and Abdullah Thuwain scored in quick succession towards the end of the match to help Oman register a convincing 5-1 victory.
Savio Medeira named right-back Samir Naik as the captain and handed Pune FC duo Lester Fernandez and Gurjinder Singh their national team debut while Anwar Ali was given a berth in central defence, in what was largely an experimental team put out by the Indian coach.The Omani Daggers started putting pressure on this unfamiliar Indian defence almost from the first whistle and swiftly went ahead in the 5th minute when Mohd. Al-Ghassani nodded in a brilliant cross by Saad Suhail, who easily went past Gurjinder on the left flank.
The home fans had barely stopped celebrating when in the 7thminute the Reds went further ahead as Ismail Al Ajmi slotted the ball past Karanjit Singh from close range after some excellent work by the Omani’s down India’s right.
The Blue Tigers barely knew what had hit them, as Paul Le Guen’s men continued to look for a third goal, while the Indians seemed completely dazed.
Gurjinder was repeatedly taken to the cleaners by Saad Suhail, while Naik fared no better on the other wing.
Eventually India managed to register their first shot on target, but Sushil Kumar Singh’s shot lacked power as well as conviction and was easily collected by the Omani custodian Faiz Al Rashidi.
Karanjit then had to rush off his line to thwart Al Ajmi, who was almost put through by a clever pass from midfield.
As the half progressed, the Omani Daggers eased their foot from the pedal and India then enjoyed a bit of possession with Jewel Raja showing some spark in midfield. The Mohun Bagan midfielder brilliantly pounced on to a loose ball in midfield and ran forward before unleashing a good shot which was agonizingly wide of the post.
Lester Fernandez, Sushil Singh and Jewel were then involved in some bright build-up play, but failed to really test the Omani custodian, as the half ended with a scoreline of 2-0 in favour of the home side.
The second half started at a much slower tempo than the first. However it was the home side with the first chance of the half, though it had nothing to do with any of Oman’s players as Samir Naik miscued a simple clearance in the box, which almost comically went into his own goal before Karanjit Singh clawed it out to spare the Dempo defender his blushes.
Al-Ghassani then almost got the third, when a long ball into the box was headed towards the striker, who, after seeing his first attempt blocked, saw his second shot go past Karanjit, only for Gouramangi to clear off the line.
It was just a momentary relief however, as with their very next attack in the 58th minute, Al Ajmi scored his second, as he swept in a brilliant low cross by Juma Darwish.
Joaquim Abranches then had a shot on target, which was spilled by the Oman goalkeeper Faiz Al Rashidi but he gathered it in on the second attempt with Sushil lurking.
Eventually India did pull one back when Joaquim Abranches nodded the ball into an empty net in the 64th minute, as a ball into the far post caught the Omani Daggers sleeping and was headed across the goalmouth by Syed Rahim Nabi for the Dempo SC frontman to apply an easy finish.
The goal provoked a response from the hosts, as they had another couple of attempts at goal, but none really troubled Karanjit Singh in goal.
The lively Abranches then had another half-chance, but he saw his first time volley go just over the bar, to leave the striker with his head in his hands.
India gradually grew in confidence as the half progressed, keeping possession better, but their defence was still shaky, as the Omani’s continued to cut through the backline with ease, and twice the Reds failed to convert with the goal gaping infront of them, with Hasan Rabie the guilty party on both the occasions.
Rabie eventually found the back of the net in the 87th minute, when he out-jumped Anwar Ali after a brilliant free-kick was floated into the box and headed home to make the scoreline 4-1.
The match ended just as it had began, with Oman getting a second goal in quick succession with Abdullah Thuwain side-footing the ball past Karanjit Singh, after being set up by Juma Darwish.
That proved to be the last chance of the match, as the referee blew the final whistle to bring India’s misery to an end.
The 5-1 scoreline leaves plenty to ponder over for Savio Medeira, as his shaky defense would need to be worked on, for the team to have any chance in the AFC Challenge Cup.
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