India suffer 0-1 defeat to Hong Kong

Pune: India went down fighting to Hong Kong by a solitary second-half goal in their fourth international football friendly match as part of their preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup here on Monday.

The all-important goal was scored by Hong Kong skipper Li Haiqiang in the 80th minute of the match at Balewadi Sports Complex.Li`s first-timer from 20 yards left the Indian custodian Subrata Pal with no chance after Indian defender Anwar was found wanting. The victory kept Hong Kong`s record against India in the past two meetings in a clean slate. They had also beaten India in an international friendly last year. India had their chances aplenty with striker Sunil Chettri missing at least two sitters in the first half, after Anthony Perreira did the spade work from the right. Clifford Miranda also had a chance when he won a challenge from Lee Chi Ho on the left but found himself without support as he moved towards the Hong Kong goal. After the breather, Hong Kong dominated possession leaving India to seek the loose ball and work themselves in.With Li Haiqiang netting the decider, India had two gilt edged chances once when Sushil Kumar Singh failed to capatalise on a fumble by goalkeeper Li Hon Ho and then when Anthony Perreira ballooned a chance from close range after Sushil set him up with a header. India take on Vietnam on October 8 at the same venue. PTILahore: A low intensity blast at a Sufi shrine in this eastern Pakistani city injured two persons, police officials said on Monday. The blast occurred in the shrine of Baba Jamil in Shahdara area of the city late last night. A large number of people were in the shrine at the time for a three-day Urs festival. Two persons sustained minor injuries, police said. Rescue teams and police reached the shrine and cordoned off the area. Lahore police spokesman Nayyab Haider said the explosive device was planted in the shrine to create panic among citizens. Extremist elements have targeted several shrines in Lahore in a similar manner. Pro-Taliban elements oppose the visiting of shrines of saints, claiming such actions go against the basic tenants of Islam. PTI