The Hindu : Sport / Football : SBI posts win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 09, 2004

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Sport - Football

SBI posts win

CHENNAI, JULY 8. Losing the lead twice, SBI finally pipped Netaji SC 4-1 in the tie-breaker after being locked 2-2 at the end of regular time in a quarterfinal match of the Cosco-Vittal trophy football tournament at the Nehru stadium on Thursday.

Earlier in another quarterfinal match, Chennai Customs too needed a tiebreaker to get past YMSC 5-4 after being 2-2 at full time.

SBI and Netaji were playing on the second successive day after featuring in the pre-quarterfinals on Wednesday. But there was no lack of enthusiasm from either side as the tussle for supremacy was closely fought. Netaji looked more organised but was unable to translate its good work to productive ends, more often the touch was missing at the vital moment. Yuvaraj and Muthuswamy that way promised much but SBI defence held on and on rare occasions, Edvin showed good anticipation in aerial collection.

It required all of Basheer's opportunism to put SBI ahead at the stroke of half-time. A free-kick started the sequence as Muthuswamy shot goalwards only to hit the post. But Basheer had moved in well to effect the `kill' off the rebound. In the 63rd minute, Yuvaraj headed in a cross from substitute Victor, whose entry actually opened up opportunities for Netaji from the right flank.

As though taking turns, SBI took the lead again with a Senthilkumar volley off Siva's spadework (73rd) and Netaji responded through Gowsigan (75th) again off Victor's cross. In the tie-breaker, Senthilkumar, Sivakumar, Basheer and Gowrishankar converted for SBI where only Durairaj could beat goalkeeper Abdul Kareem. Both Victor and Thiyagarajan failed.

In the earlier match, YMSC's Kanagaraj scored twice (46th and 60th) before marching out with a red card. Jai Kumar (51st) and Robin Joseph (63rd) were Customs' scorers. Robin then turned the hero for Customs when he replaced regular goalkeeper Suresh for YMSC's final kick and saved John Suresh's shot to clinch the issue. Kumar, Robin Joseph, Arulmani, Jaikumar and Raja were Customs' scorers in the tie-breaker, while Karthik, Pavalavannan, Suman Raj and Viji netted for YMSC.

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