Yemen holds India

SAANA (YEMEN), MAY 4. India suffered another setback in its World Cup campaign when it was held to a 3-3 draw by Yemen in a Asian Zone Group 8 qualifying match here on Friday.

After the first-half ended level at 2-2, acting captain I.M. Vijayan gave India the lead in the sixth minute of the second- half. However, Yemen equalised in the 62nd minute of the match much to the delight of a 20,000 home-crowd. The score remained tied thereafter as both teams squandered many scoring opportunities.

India, playing without its inspirational captain Baichung Bhutia, twice fought back from a goal deficit in the first half to see the half-time score level at 2-2. Yemen drew the first blood in the 14th minute through a penalty kick and India equalised three minutes later.

Yemen scored again in the 20th minute only to see the Indians catch up in the 39th minute. India's previous game with Yemen in Bangalore last month had ended in a 1-1 draw.

India, which lost 0-1 to UAE in the last match, now has five points from its four matches having won one, drawn two and lost one. It has two games against Brunei left. Yemen is sitting atop the Group 8 table with eight points from four matches followed by UAE on six points from three matches.

- PTI

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Section  : Sport
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