India lose 0-3 to Oman in 2018 World Cup qualifier

India suffered their fifth consecutive defeat as they lost 0-3 to Oman on Tuesday in Group D match of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex here.

World No.167 India have now lost all their five matches so far to be rooted at the bottom of Group D.

Ahmed Kano broke the deadlock in the 55th minute before a brace form Abdul Aziz in 67th and 85th minute sealed the win for the hosts.

Oman had several opportunities to open the scoring from a number of corner kicks in the first half. But goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved the first header while the second was over the bar.

India came close to scoring in the first half after a counter-attack from the visitors helped skipper Sunil Chhetri gain the ball but his left-footed strike from distance fizzed over the bar.

In the 55th minute, the hosts had something to cheer about, as a cross to the far post was headed across the six yard box before Ahmed Kano stabbed it into the empty net from close range to give Oman the lead.

The world No.102 Oman then doubled their lead in the 67th minute as Aziz found plenty of space around the penalty spot between the Indian defenders to calmly slot the ball into the net.

Aziz was once more given an incredible amount of space in the penalty area by the Indian defenders as he thumped his header in from an inswinging cross from the right flank in the 85th minute to put Oman 3-0 up and thus seal victory.