Oman win 5-1 against experimental Team India

Oman scored a comprehensive 5-1 victory against India in an international friendly at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat. The match kicked-off very early at 13.30 local time, but on a sunny, windy afternoon the weather cannot be blamed for India's heavy defeat.

India coach Savio Medeira send out an experimental side against an experienced Oman. Due to niggles Sunil Chhetri, Lalrindika Ralte and Nirmal Chetri were rested along with livewire Syed Rahim Nabi to give the youngsters in the squad a chance to show themselves in an international friendly ahead of the team selection.

Samir Naik led India for the first time onto the field, but it was Oman who started with a bang as they were two-nil up just within seven minutes. First Mohammed Al-Ghassani headed home in the fifth minute and only two minutes later Ismail Al Ajmi doubled the lead with Oman all over India in the initial period. It seemed India could be heading for a heavy defeat, but the young Indian side slowly found their way into the match with Sushil Kumar Singh making the first attempt goalwards on the quarter hour mark.

Thereafter Oman remained the better side, but India made their forays into the Oman half with Jewel Raja playing a key role in midfield and it was him who had the best chance for India in the first session. It remained 2-0 for Oman at the break.

There were no substitutions at the break. Oman remained dangerous with India often averting danger at the last moment or Karanjit Singh there in goal. But it was once more Ismail Al Ajmi who made it 3-0 for Oman in the 59th minute and it looked all over for India. Still India did not give-up and were rewarded in the 64th minute when lively striker Joaquim Abranches scored of a pass from substitute Syed Rahim Nabi. Thereafter it was an open game with chances on both sides, but late in the game Oman did score a couple of more goals. First it was Hasan Rabie, who scored from header after missing a couple of simple chances, in the 88th minute and the final nail in the coffin came from substitute Abdullah Thuwaini a minute into injury time.

The 5-1 scoreline is a little too harsh on India, but on the other hand Oman could have easily scored a few more goals. A lot of work remains for Savio Medeira and his men, who next play Azerbaijan on Monday, February 27 in their last preparatory match ahead of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal.


MATCH STATS

Oman 5-1 (2-0) India - Goals: 1-0 Mohammed Al-Ghassani (5'), 2-0,3-0 Ismail Al Ajmi (7',59'), 3-1 Joaquim Abranches (65'), 4-1 Hasan Rabie (88'), 5-1 Abdullah Thuwaini (90+1')

INDIA
1-Karanjit Singh; 16-Samir Naik [C], 5-Anwar, 19-Gouramangi Singh, 27-Gurjinder Singh; 12-Anthony Pereira (61' 22-Syed Rahim Nabi), 7-Baldeep Singh (50' 47-Lenny Rodrigues), 28-Jewel Raja Sheikh, 10-Lester Mark Fernandez (57' 26-Francis Fernandes); 18-Sushil Kumar Singh (81' 50-Manandeep Singh), 9-Joaquim Abranches