Injury rules our Al Qahtani

New Delhi:

Saudi striker Yasser Al Qahtani, India's nemesis in the AFC Asian Cup qaulifier in Kolkata, has been ruled out of the return match at Jeddah due to injury. The Al Hilal forward injured his abdomen during Saudi Arabia's recent friendly against United Arab Emirates and will be out of action for three weeks. Qahtani will miss the Asian Cup qualifier against Japan on Sunday as well as the match against Bob Houghton's men on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia's Brazilian coach Marcos Pacqueta has called up another Al Hilal player, Ahmed Al Suwaileh, as replacement for the 23-year-old striker, who had last month sunk India with a hat-trick. Saudi Arabia are second in Group A on goal difference behind Japan who have six points from two matches. Yemen are third with three points from three matches. India have lost all their three matches and have only a remote chance of making it to the Asian Cup to be held next year in Malaysia, Indonesia, Camdodia and Vietnam. (PTI)