It's a Bengal-Manipur summit clash

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 18. Substitutes Saijalal Haokip and Jotin did the trick for Manipur as the defending champion snatched a 2-1 win over Bihar, after trailing at the break, in a 35th junior National football tournament semifinal at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Sunday. Earlier, Bengal also booked a final berth defeating Tamil Nadu 1-0.

The semifinals had a sedate start as Bengal and Tamil Nadu played a circumspect game. Bengal's first promising run occurred in the 27th minute but Amar Pyne's 30-yarder was softened by custodian J. Kothandaraman's gloves.

The match's clincher was pegged in the 37th minute as Bengal's skipper Trijit Das' left-footer, off a nudge from Amar Pyne, left Kothandaraman stranded. It proved too easy a goal as the Tamil Nadu defence and its custodian were busy clamouring for an off- side ruling, while Trijit did the damage. Tamil Nadu did hasten proceedings in the second-half but it proved futile. The lone flicker in the 58th minute also failed as Bengal's Amandeep Singh cleared an Edwin Raj shot. Tamil Nadu's lukewarm show helped Bengal enter the final after a five year gap.

The other showdown started in right earnest and Bihar's alarm bells rang in the initial minutes when Manipur's W. Ajit started a solo from the mid-field. The move got stifled as Bihar custodian Manash Barua effected a smart block. In a swift move Bihar flipped pressure back and scored its lone goal in the 12th minute. A Syed Rahim Nabi shot hit the crossbar but Krishna Tudu latched onto the rebound and tapped in the goal.

Bihar however was reduced to ten men in the 34th minute as Santosh Singh suffered a red card. The doughty defender collided with Saijalal Haokip near the centre-line and the referee Senthil Vel issued marching orders to Santosh. But Bihar did well in holding onto the lead at the break.

In the second half, Bihar had its lone attempt in the 42nd minute when Krishna Tudu's left footer got muffled in Robikanta's gloves. The reigning champion suddenly rediscovered its moorings and Bihar was busy backpedalling. In the 53rd minute, Manipur clocked its equaliser when a Bhume trickle down the right flank was passed by W. Ajit to Saijalal Haokip, substituting for Lamminlen Chonloi. Saijalal's right-footer was on target and Manipur had entered the homestretch with honours even.

The match seemed headed for a `golden goal' climax but with just two minutes remaining for the final whistle, Manipur got its clincher. An Ajit through from the mid-field helped an unmarked Jotin, substituting for T. Shyamsunder, chip in a decisive left- footer.

Manipur and Bengal will have their final tilt at the same venue on Tuesday.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Wright happy with spinners' performance
Next     : Punjab, Mumbai enter semifinals