HYDERABAD: India made a brave bid to come back from a two goal first half deficit against Lebanon but finished a 1-3 loser in the Asian group B pre-Olympic qualifying football tournament here in Andhra Pradesh Thursday.
The Indian chief coach Josezef Gelei would have to mule his decision to have the team play a more attacking game as the Indians bowed out of the race for the lone qualifying spot from the group
Linkman Nabil Jamal struck twice in the first 16 minutes making the most of the defensive blunders by lethargic Indians.
The home side reduced the merging through inside left I M Vijayan just before the hour was through and had a handball inside the Lebanon box overlooked.
Stnker Salah Dallal put the issue beyond doubt in the 83rd minute with a peach of a goal from 25 yards out on the left flank that could have spurned even him.
The Indians with games against the strong Syrians (August 11) and the Kuwaitis (August14) have a lone point from the August 4 drown with Oman.
Lebanon which fought hard to keep the Syrians down to a 1-0 win on Monday have two points from as many games.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 16, 1991
