Al Kathiri hat-trick fires UAE past India in 5-0 Asian Games opening romp

Saeed Al Kathiri had a hat-trick and Bandar Al Ahbabi added two more goals as the UAE all but secured they will advance from the three-team Group G at the Asian Games.

Saeed Al Kathiri shown with the UAE national team during an Asian Cup qualifier in 2010. Anvar Ilyasov / AP / Marc 3, 2010

Saeed Al Kathiri scored three goals and fellow overage standout Bandar Al Ahbabi added two as the UAE got their Asian Games campaign in South Korea to a perfect start, with a 5-0 demolition of India in their Group G opener on Monday.

They had the game won in the first 20 minutes after Al Kathiri, the captain and a member of the silver-medal-winning Asian Games team in China four years ago, scored twice and Al Ahbabi added a third in a six-minute burst of attacking football.

Al Kathiri, 26, led from the front and made his experience count. He scored twice within two minutes in the first half and completed a hat trick with a sliding effort on a low cross from Al Ahbabi, 24.

Salim Ali’s effort off a short tap from Al Kathiri deflected off a defender and the Al Wasl striker was on target with a header from the ensuing corner, going down to his knees to guide the ball in to the far corner of the net.

Al Kathiri then leapt full stretch to powerfully connect Al Ahbabi’s cross for a perfect finish for his second goal.

It was Ahbabi’s turn next. The veteran forward, who joined Baniyas in the summer, collected a long pass and moved inside the box before unleashing a powerful right footer to hit roof of the net.

Al Ahbabi added a second goal when he collected a long pass and rolled it past the charging keeper Kumar Ravi to complete the rout.

India made some daring incursions inside the UAE box, and tested the goalkeeper Ahmed Shambih, a few times but that was as close they got against a superior UAE outfit.

The Asian Games tournament is modelled on that of the Olympic Games, with Under 23 teams allowed to use three overage players.

The UAE meet Jordan on Thursday and the latter play India next Monday. The top two will advance to the round of 16.