New Delhi: Two red cards in the first 30 minutes cost India dear as they went down 0-3 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the World Cup qualifiers at Al Ain on Saturday.

Expected to put up a good fight against their fancied rivals Armando Colaco’s men came a cropper after they were reduced to nine men.

While wing back Debabrata Roy was the first to be given marching orders in the 20th minute for bringing down a rival striker inside the area, goalkeeper Subrata Paul followed soon as he rushed out to foul striker Ismail Al Hammadi.

Both resulted in spot kicks with Hamdan Al Kamani and Mehmad Al Shehhi scoring with ease. Karanjit Singh was brought at the expense of Stephen Dias as the replacement goalkeeper. The Indian bench created a bit of drama over Paul’s expulsion though it was totally uncalled for.

For Paul, this was the second red card in as many World Cup qualifiers. In 2007, in Margao, Paul fouled Lebanon’s El Ali Mohammed to earn a red card.