Manjit Singh is Mahindra's hero

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, FEB. 1. Mahindra United, affected by injuries and struggling to re-discover the Durand Cup form, won a match it was expected to lose. The 1-0 victory over in-form Indian Telephone Industries in the fifth National Football League, through a 18th minute Manjit Singh goal, was like a kiss of life for the Mumbai side's campaign.

Coach Shabbir Ali, having to adjust to the prolonged absence of seven players due to injuries, can now heave a sigh of relief that atleast luck is on his side. ITI got two chances in the closing minutes but striker Naushad's grounder rolled wide and then the post came in the way of a thundering Majid Amodaa volley.

Had either of these attempts clicked, the Bangalore team's coach Mohd Habib would have been celebrating instead of trying to find the answers to explain this unexpected loss. Mahindra, fielding defender Bernard Oparanozie for the first time after a month-long layoff due to injury, took the risk of inducting international striker Raman Vijayan, out of the game for two months, in the second half.

The coach was happy the risks paid off as Bernard's anticipation and sliding tackling proved effective in thwarting ITI's deadly duo of Kenneth Ogawa and George Ekeh from running amok in the danger area. Vijayan took the field 30 minutes into the second half and made an immediate impact on the attack with his raking runs.

Manjit, greeted with applause from a sparse Cooperage crowd when he came off to enable Vijayan into the fray, struck in the 18th minute, the goal coming against the run of play. Abhay Kumar's vision for space and accurate diagonal pass from the right made the goal possible as Manjit latched onto the ball, slipped through the ITI defence and placed on the run past goalkeeper Balaji.

ITI worked hard for the equaliser, but saw India goalkeeper Virender Singh thwarting two goalmouth attempts. The Mahindra United custodian was beaten on two occasions as the Bangalore team launched into a frenzy of attacks, but luck was not on the latter's side.

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Section  : Sport
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