Saudis mincemeat India in AFC Cup soccer

Kolkata, Aug 16 (UNI) Yasser Al Qhatani scored hat-trick as Saudi Arabia gave India a lesson in soccer en route to their facile victory in the AFC Cup qualifier at Salt Lake Stadium here today.

The script unfolded as expected with the falcons taking home three points in group A.

A regret that the home side will have is that the visitors did not have to work for their goals.

First goal came at the very second mintue even before the nerve could settle. Naif Al Qadi centre saw N S Manju trying out one dodge too many allowing a lurking Yasser to come from behind and volley home the first goal 1-0.

Second goal came in the 20th minute. Hyder Ameen floated the ball in the six yard box only to see both Surkumar Singh and N Pradeep going for covering overlapping forward Al Dosari. Yasser once again stole the thunder coming up from behind and heading home with elan 2-0.

His third and final goal came in the 52nd minute when Al Dosasri and Ameen Hyder played one-to-one between themselves and the latter provided a measure through that Yasser put into the net with a side step volley 3-0.

Yasser is the most prolific strikers, who played a vital al-Sagour' world cup campaign and also scored the winner in their friendly against Bahrain before their match here today.

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