RAYYAN – A bodily Australia facet dominated India to win their Asian Cup Group B opener 2-Zero on Saturday in entrance of a crowd largely made up of Indian followers on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
After a cagey opening 45 minutes, Australia bought on the board by means of Jackson Irvine earlier than Jordan Bos made it 2-Zero seconds after approaching instead. The encounter felt nearly like a house sport for India with the group on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium largely made up of followers from the Indian diaspora in Doha and so they made their presence felt, roaring the group on regardless of Australia’s early dominance.
However after being shut out within the first half, Australia silenced the group with the opening objective quickly after the break. Their second deflated each the Indian group and the world. “The joy of the primary sport (of the Asian Cup) bought to the players within the first half,” Australia’s coach Graham Arnold stated. “At halftime, we mentioned the place we might damage India and calmed them down. We advised them, ‘Simply be affected person and it’ll come’.”
The match additionally noticed Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita develop into the primary lady referee to officiate a males’s Asian Cup encounter, with assistant referees Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi making it an all-female trio. Spurred on by the group, Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri missed a golden opportunity when he despatched a header large, however Australia turned the screws thereafter and managed possession as India not often managed to enterprise out of their very own half.
It quickly turned obvious that India have been no match for Australia’s physicality throughout the pitch because the 2015 champions commonly gained duels to forestall Igor Stimac’s facet from progressing the ball. India held agency till the break, however 5 minutes after the restart Australia discovered the breakthrough.
Indian keeper Gurpreet Singh did not take care of a cross and his tame effort to palm it away fell to Irvine, who wanted no second invitation to attain. The objective took the wind out of India’s sails and Australia capitalised with a second within the 73rd minute when Riley McGree dribbled into the field and lower a move again for Bos to attain. Though Australia took all three factors, Arnold stated there was nonetheless room for enchancment.