The Indian football team put up a better display in their second group game but lost 2-0 to a superior Jordan, thus ending their campaign in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon on Monday.
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Jordan struck on either side of the break through striker Laith Albashtawi in the 17th minute and midfielder Yazan Mohammed Yousef in the 66th.
India conceded the first goal when Ahmed Mousa's powerful right-footer was parried away by goalie Amrinder Singh. However, with defender Laurenco Joyner Monte not in his position, striker Albashtawi barged in to slot it home.
India earlier lost their opening encounter to the United Arab Emirates 0-5. India thus conceded seven goals in two group league matches to finish their turbulent Asian Games journey.
However, Chhetri and his boys can take heart from the fact that they showed a lot of spirit against the Jordanian side that was both technically and tactically superior.
India's defending was better with the two side-backs Narayan Das (Dempo) and Pritam Kotal (Mohun Bagan) doing a good job to restrict the opposition's wing play.
India coach Wim Koevermans's strategy to play with a single striker in Robin Singh meant that his boys never had the numerical advantage on the counters.
Robin would cut a lonely figure upfront as skipper Chhetri was operating from wide right but, on many occasions, had to fall back in order to help the defence.
Robin had a couple of left-footed cracks at the Jordan goal but in vain.
The Indian football team’s Asian Games campaign was marred by controversy after the sports ministry initially refused to send the team on the cost of the government.
