India win 3-1, return to winning ways

India's losing streak came to an end with a convincing 3-1 win against local UAE club Hatta SC at the Hatta Sports Ground. A double strike from substitute striker Abhishek Yadav and a goal from Sushil Kumar Singh gave India a crucial win after the series of losses.

Coach Bob Houghton once more had to do without Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Anwar, Syed Rahim Nabi and Arindam Bhattacharya. So Bob only made one change from the match against Fujairah SC with Baldeep Singh playing alongside captain Climax Lawrence in place of Mehrajuddin Wadoo in the heart of midfield.

After a goalless first half with honours even between the two sides, India came out into the second session more focused. Abhishek Yadav came on for Mohammed Rafi and that would do the trick for India. But it was first striker Sushil Kumar Singh who would give India the lead through a header of a Steven Dias cross. Only for Hatta SC to equalise in the 73rd minute, but their lead was shortlived as Abhishek Yadav would head home in the 75th minute to restore India's lead. Abhishek would ensure India's win in the 85th minute with his second goal of the day.

For Bob Houghton and his boys it was an important win to end the losing run though many will argue the win came against a lower level club side from the Emirates. But that doesn't matter for the Team India contingent as they continue their preparations for the Asian Cup.


INDIA

1-Subrata Pal; 17-Surkumar Singh, 19-Gouramangi Singh, 14-Mahesh Gawli, 12-Deepak Kumar Mondal; 8-Renedy Singh, 30-Climax Lawrence, 6-Baldeep Singh, 23-Steven Dias; 18-Sushil Kumar Singh, 26-Mohammed Rafi (46' 9-Abhishek Yadav)
Substitutes: 24-Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, 16-Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, 7-N.P.Pradeep, 13-James Lukram Singh, 21-Baljit Singh Sahni, 27-Mehrajuddin Wadao, 29-Jagpreet Singh, 41-Rakesh Masih