Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Hosts United Arab Emirates threw off the shackles at the Asian Cup on Thursday, surviving a hairy start to dispatch India 2-0 and close in on a place in the last 16.
Jordan earlier became the first side to book their place in the knockout stages after winning a bruising derby with Syria by the same scoreline while the “Thai Messi” Chanathip Songkrasin snatched a lifeline for the War Elephants in Dubai.
Khalfan Mubarak and Ali Mabkhout were on target in Abu Dhabi for the Emiratis, who were fortunate to scrape a 1-1 draw in their curtain-raiser against Bahrain after a controversial late penalty last Saturday.
“The Bahrain result was a disappointment and I humbly apologised to the fans,” said UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who steered Japan to the Asian Cup title in 2011.
“But the players showed great spirit and willpower tonight and we deserved the victory. It’s important to grow into the tournament.”
India captain Sunil Chhetri overtook Lionel Messi in international goals as the Blue Tigers stunned Thailand 4-1 in their opening game to earn comparisons with Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli for his heroics.
The evergreen striker forced a smart save from UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa before the home side drew first blood against the run of play.
Mubarak whipped the ball home from an acute angle four minutes before halftime for the Emirates, who were runners-up the last time the country hosted the Asian Cup in 1996.
Mabkhout sealed the points with a cool finish two minutes from the end — his 47th goal in 75 internationals — to give the scoreline a somewhat flattering complexion but left UAE top of Group A on four points.
– Car alarm –
Until Mubarak’s strike — his first for his country — the 2015 semi-finalists had been largely restricted to pot shots that threatened little but the fleets of luxury cars in the stadium parking lot.
India, who finished runners-up on their Asian Cup debut in 1964 when it was a four-team competition won by Israel, will still fancy their chances of reaching the knockout phase for the first time.
“We created enough chances to win two games so I think we deserved at least a draw,” said India coach Stephen Constantine.
“But if you don’t convert your chances you pay for it — and we paid for it. I have 23 bitterly disappointed boys.”
Jordan have claimed a perfect six points after first-half goals from Mousa Mohammad Suleiman and Tareq Khattab earned a 2-0 win over Syria in a tempestuous Group B clash.
Jordan’s players celebrated joyously with their fans at the final whistle, as rumours swirled that Syria had axed German coach Bernd Stange in the aftermath.
“We know where we are coming from — from very low — but we changed a lot of things,” said Jordan coach Vital Borkelmans, whose side stunned Asian Cup holders Australia in their opening games.
“Before, nobody believed in these players,” added the Belgian. “Now I think all the media and the Jordan people believe that they have a good team.”
Thailand, who sacked Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac after their humiliating loss to India, bounced back by beating Bahrain 1-0.
The bleach-blond Chanathip fired the Thais to only their second-ever Asian Cup win to reignite their hopes, smashing in a first-time shot that rocketed past Sayed Shubbar Alawi in the Bahrain goal.
