The United Arab Emirates (UAE) got the better of India in their international friendly in Dubai after registering a 6-0 win against the Blue Tigers at the Zabeel Stadium on Monday. Ali Mabkhout scored a hat-trick for UAE, while Khalil Ibrahim, Fabio Lima and Sebastian Tagliabue scored once each to complete the rout.

• Ali Mabkhout scored twice in the first half to put UAE in control of the match.
• Mabkhout completed his hat-trick in the second period before Khalil Ibrahim, Fabio Lima and Sebastian Tagliabue got their names on the scoresheet.

UAE started the match intent on attacking India and dominated possession from the beginning as the Blue Tigers found it difficult to keep hold of the ball and settle into the contest. After playing most of the opening 10 minutes in India’s half, UAE took the lead in the 12th minute when an exquisite pass by Lima unlocked the Blue Tigers’ defence and found Mabkhout, who beat the offside trap and chipped the ball over an outrushing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to make it 1-0.

The hosts were firmly in control of the match after taking the lead and went on to double their advantage following the half hour mark when they were awarded a penalty by the referee due to a Adil Khan handball in the box. Mabkhout stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the net to extend his team’s advantage.

Mabkhout could have had his hat-trick in the 38th minute when he beat India’s offside trap to run on to another delightful Lima pass. However, on this occasion Mabkhout could only find the side netting to the relief of India.

He had another shot at goal from outside the penalty box in the 42^nd minute but his effort flew over the crossbar. Mabkhout, in fact, was in the thick of the action and directed a cross from the left on target towards the end of the half only for Adil to make a crucial block as UAE went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

UAE’s first big chance of the second half came in the 53rd minute when an unmarked Lima failed to keep his header from a corner on target. Bandar Mohammed then forced Gurpreet into saving a powerfully struck freekick soon after.

Sandhu though was helpless to prevent India from conceding a third goal on the hour mark when Bandar found Mabkhout with a pass from deep. Mabkhout then demonstrated his composure by calmly controlling the ball before placing it into the corner of the net.

UAE continued to attack India and forced Gurpeet into making a couple of saves minutes after netting their third. However, the hosts scored their fourth of the night in the 64th minute when Mabkhout came up with an excellent through ball for Khalil to run onto and finish first-time.

Things went from bad to worse for India in the 71st minute when they conceded possession in a dangerous position near their box, allowing UAE to capitalise and get bodies in the box as Lima received a pass from the left before hitting it into the net for his side’s fifth goal.

Lima tuned provider again for UAE’s sixth goal when he shrugged substitute Ashique Kuruniyan off the ball before passing it to Tagliabue, who executed the simplest of finishes to add to his team’s lead. UAE could have scored more before the final whistle but Gurpeet made some good saves to keep the score down as India slumped to a heavy loss.