The Hindu : Sport / Football : Mizoram rallies to draw with Bengal

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Saturday, Jun 11, 2005

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Sport - Football

Mizoram rallies to draw with Bengal

Sports Reporter

FEELING GREAT: S.K. Habib Ali (10) of Bengal celebrates after scoring a goal against Mizoram in the National under-21 championship. — Photo: M. Moorthy

Tiruchi: Mizoram fought back from a precarious position to hold fancied Bengal 1-1 in a Group B league match of the 14th National under-21 (inter-zone) football championship, organised by Tiruchi District Football Association, at the St. Joseph's College HSS grounds here on Friday.

Bengal made good use of the cloudy conditions and put pressure on Mizoram straightaway. Strikers Habib Ali, Tarif Ahamed and Sovan Das were the men busily working upfront and their efforts were rewarded in the 12th minute.

Tarif, shadowed by the defence in the middle, quickly passed the ball back to Surajit Chakraborty. The striker sent an accurate pass to Habib who volleyed the ball past Vanlalhriata, the Mizoram custodian.

Stung by the reverse, the Mizoram boys paced their game and had a chance to equalise in the 22nd minute. Capitalising on a moment of lethargy in the Bengal defence, Lalremruata collected the ball from the right and with a defender obstructing his path, cleverly lobbed it to M.S. Tluanga. However, the latter's half-hearted shot sailed over the top post.

Eight minutes later, Mizoram mounted yet another attack. Tluanga found space again and this time sped towards the penalty area. As a defender moved out to challenge him, he hit the ball straight into the hands of the Bengal goalkeeper.

In full cry

In the second phase, Mizoram did not allow Bengal to settle down as its forwards went full cry. Stepping up the pace, the Mizoram strikers began to stretch the Bengal defence and tasted success in the 20th minute.

Collecting a pass from the centre, Vannunmawia Vanchhawng advanced threateningly from the left and sneaked into the penalty area only to find a Bengal defender bring him down. The referee quickly showed the spot.

Laltlantluanga, who took the penalty, made no mistake. Thereafter, both teams fought tooth and nail, but could not score.

Saturday's matches: Delhi vs Punjab; Services vs Tamil Nadu.

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