India go down fighting against Bahrain

Team India went down fighting against Bahrain in their second Group C match at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. The team from the Gulf in the end won 5-2 against India at the Al Sadd Stadium. And once more it was a home game for the Bhangra Boys as most of the 11032 spectators were Indians.

After the Australia match where all had said that India gave a good account of themselves especially in their defensive play though we were not present in attack last night it was the other way around. India upfront, especially Sunil Chhetri, gave a good account of themselves with left winger Renedy Singh the pick of the players in midfield; but the defence and Subrata Pal committed some unneeded mistakes which allowed the Bahrainis to walk away winners.

India started off brightly as they weren't as scared going into this game like they were against Australia with Sunil Chhetri having a early header cleared by the Bahraini keeper. Climax Lawrence would bring down Faouzi Aaish and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Aaish would himself take the penalty and send Subrata Pal the wrong way, but India weren't just beaten yet as only a minute later a Renedy freekick was headed on by Abhishek Yadav to Gouramangi Singh, who headed in for India. And the stadium was going berserk as India had scored their first goal of the tournament.

At this stage India got a little carried away as they tried to go ahead, while Bahrain had to simply wait for Indian mistakes especially their striker Ismaeel Abdulatif who scored a first half hattrick. It was 4-1 at halftime and around me the Indian journos were worried that we could fall apart like we did in a friendly against Kuwait.

But after the break India would once more get on the score sheet in controversial fashion. Renedy Singh would take a brilliant long-ranger which went over the line, but the referee nor linesman gave it as a goal, Abhishek can't push it over but Chhetri is there to head home. Actually Renedy's goal was exactly a case like Frank Lampard's goal against Germany at last years FIFA World Cup.

Once more the crowds were there to support India and push our team forward. Bahrain weakened themselves as goalscorer Faouzi Aaish would get two quick yellow cards to be send off. Now it seemed if India got the 4-3 then anything was possible. India did push, but didn't get that vital third goal as Bahrain would the match through Abdulatif's fourth goal of the night.

After the game Bob Houghton told me that he was proud of his boys especially the way they came back in the second session after going into the break 4-1 down. And we agreed that India got a little too ambitious after getting the one-all equaliser, going for the kill rather then playing a wait and watch game.

Injured captain Baichung Bhutia was a proud man. He was very happy with the performance, but disappointed that India couldn't get a better result on the night.

India are now out of the tournament, but face mighty South Korea in their final group match. Which is another highlight for many players and for some it could be their final international game as retirements are likely to come from the senior players.