SBT upsets Churchill's applecart

By Our Sports Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 7. The big guns of Churchill Brothers failed to boom and it was underdogs State Bank of Travancore which called the shots to end up as a deserving 3-1 victor in the Coca-Cola National Football League match at the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium here on Friday.

Asif Saheer (14th), Abdul Hakkim (48th) and Ignatius (67th) struck to end the SBT jinx at the venue, where it had lost its previous three matches.

The three foreigners in the Churchill ranks did little of substance until Ukrainian Andriy Malchesvsky scored the consolation goal in the 75th minute. Francis Silveira, the league's leading scorer, remained largely anonymous on the field and had a poor match.

Asif Saheer scored in the 14th minute with a glancing header to underline his side's initial supremacy after being put through by Abdul Hakkim from the right. SBT dominated play throughout the first half but was denied on three occasions by goalkeeper Edward Ansan.

The Churchill goal fell early in the second half when Abdul Hakkim headed in a corner kick taken by Shabir Ali. SBT kept up the pressure with swift counter-attacks and scored again in the 67th minute. The spadework for the goal was done by Abdul Hakkim, who after receiving a through ball from the middle, drew the goalkeeper out and centred to Asif Saheer. The diminutive striker beat a defender and put Abdul Hakkim in possession, and an unmarked Ignatius headed in the resultant cross from Abdul Hakkim.

The Goan side showed some purpose in its attacks only after its citadel fell for the third time. Ukrainian Andriy Malchevsky grabbed the consolation goal with a stiff shot, after being put through by Francis Silveira.

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