Dubai: Ali Mabkhout netted a hat-trick as United Arab Emirates trounced India 6-0 in an international friendly on Monday. UAE were all-over Igor Stimac’s men throughout the game displaying tremendous dominance cutting through India’s defence at the Zabeel Stadium. Khalil Ibrahim, Fabio De Lima and Sebastian Lucas Tagliabue also scored one each.
𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄!
We go down to UAE at the end of the 90 minutes.
🇮🇳 0-6 🇦🇪#INDUAE ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽ #BackTheBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/L7XnoyMV5G
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 29, 2021
Coming after a goalless draw against Oman, India felt the absence of Sunil Chhetri from the first minute. Mabkhout struck twice for UAE to give them a 2-0 lead at the break. India struggled to put pressure on opposing defence and create opportunities in and around the final third. However, towards the end of the first half, Liston Colaco somehow found a defense-splitting pass for Manvir Singh but it wasn’t fruitful.
Mabkhout completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute from a precise cross after which the 74th ranked UAE wrecked havoc especially through De Lima who was instrumental and got his reward scoring one on 71 minutes. Earlier, Ibrahim scored in the 64th minute. Tagliabue hammered the final nail in the coffin from a low cross by De Lima sealing the deal for his side six minites from time.
