Iran first to enter Asian Cup quarters

Abdulatif leads Bahrain thrashing of India.

DOHA: Three-time champions Iran swept aside North Korea 1-0 at the Asian Cup to become the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals in their bid to end a 35-year title drought.

Karim Ansari Fard struck the winner in the 62nd minute as Team Melli fought to crack a tight North Korean defence. It put Iran on six points in Group D, ensuring them of a spot in the last-eight with one match still to play against UAE.

It was a close encounter with Iran having to work hard to unlock the famously tight North Korean backline with few chances in a cagey start. North Korea’s defeat followed their uninspiring scoreless draw with the UAE and leaves them staring at elimination from the tournament.

Bahrain demolish India 5-2

Ismaeel Abdulatif is the new darling of Bahrain after he claimed four goals, including a first-half hat-trick, in his team’s 5-2 demolition of India.

The 24-year-old forward netted from close range in the 16th and 19th minute after Faouzi Aaish’s opener had been cancelled out by Gouramangi Singh and then completed his hat-trick with a slick finish 10 minutes before half-time.

India pulled another goal back through Sunil Chhetri before Aaish was dismissed after being shown a second yellow card for diving. But Abdulatif slammed home a fine individual goal late at the Al Sadd Stadium to put the game beyond India and send himself to the top of the tournament scoring charts.

“It was his time to score,” said Bahrain teammate Jaycee John, who set up Abdulatif’s second goal. “He had a lot of chances and if I find that I’m in a position to set something up and he’s in a better position than me to score, then I will give him the ball because we want to get the goals and the three points for the team.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th,  2011.