New Delhi, July 28: A spirited India rallied with an injury time goal to hold formidable United Arab Emirates 2-2 but it proved too little too late as they bowed out of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers under unplayable conditions at Ambedkar Stadium here today.
UAE, who had won the first leg 3-0 at home, made it to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers on 5-2 aggregate.
Defender Gouramangi Singh found the equaliser in the 92nd minute from a goalmouth melee after the home side were trailing 1-2 in the second round match of the World Cup qualifiers played in a virtual muddy and watery field.
Mohamed Al Shehhi and captain Ali Al Wehabi scored for UAE in the 39th and 71st minutes before Jeje Lalpekhlua pulled one back for India in the 74th minute.
For India, who are 44 places below UAE in FIFA rankings at 153rd, it could be considered a good result after their 0-3 loss in the first leg at Al Ain on July 23 though the playing conditions today were far from being conducive for top-class encounter.
With heavy rain lashing the Ambedkar Stadium pitch since half an hour before the start of the match and throughout the game, ground passing was impossible as the ball stopped at the water puddles all over the place.
Understandably, both the sides had to employ the tactics of kicking the ball upfront and trying to keep the ball at opposition defence who, in turn, would look for first time clearance. PTI
