India Juniors XI enters semifinal

By Our Special Correspondent

PONDICHERRY, JUNE 16. ``Come on India'' came a shrill cry from a spectator in the main stand. Of course he did not have the cricketers in mind but the ebullient India Juniors XI football team, an instant public favourite here.

The India under-19 squad did not disappoint him or the vast concourse, carving out a 3-2 win over Manaksia Tollygunge Agragami in the last quarterfinal league match to enter the semi final of the Pondicherry Millennium all India invitation football tournament at the floodlit Indira Gandhi complex here on Friday.

In the process the Juniors edged out aspirant Mahindra United by virtue of having scored more goals. Both the teams had finished with four points (a win and a draw) and had an identical goal difference of one.

The Junior XI will now play SBT Thiruvananthapuram in the semifinal on Sunday, while Mohun Bagan and Salgaocar will play the other semifinal tomorrow. The final thus will now be held on Monday and not Sunday as earlier scheduled.

As the scoreline suggested it was a close encounter with pulsating moments, particularly in the end stages when everything hung in suspense for the young men. Leading 2-0 by the half hour, the Junior team lost ground and Tollygunge restored parity in the space of six minutes in the second session. The contest livened, fortunes fluctuated and proceedings became eventful as Tollygunge lost two players (substitute S. Das and A. Felix) to Red card bookings. But everything culminated the way the Juniors had dreamt. The boy who got that match winner was substitute Md Qisar off Bungo Singh's pass with just six minutes remaining for the final whistle. The finish could not have been more exhilarating.

After the boys had struggled for a goal bound move in the earlier two matches, it came as a pleasant surprise to see them taste success quite early and with relative ease. If there was any suggestion that the Calcutta team was also showering its good wishes to the Sri Lanka squad then the whole scenario changed dramatically in the second session. Coach Akramov had made some minor changes in the positioning of the boys, pushing Sumit Sur to the front and Dharmajit Singh to the right half. In effect he strengthened the attack for the boys moved with such swiftness that each forward dash had the designs of an ambush. But the way Tollygunge's Napoleon singh allowed Gnana Prakash to send a through pass from the right flank and the way the defence left Alex Mario to dart ahead to meet the ball and fire, clearly the Calcutta side seemed to welcome the rival than frustrate. That goal came in the ninth minute.

The sting brought a reaction, a few long tries but Satish was equal to the task. But he needed to be extra watchful of the Nigerian Sereki who had the potential to scare. Then came Alex's second essay, once again a smooth run down left flank after grabbing the ball from Dey followed by a low try, leaving Prasanta Dora stretched and beaten.

The Juniors sat pretty but did not bargain for Tollygunge to change gears. Shasthi Duley, off mood earlier regained his touch and speed. The confusion he created plus the Juniors tendency to fall back changed the trend. In the midst came the fax paus by Mani in tripping substitute Bhabani in the danger area and India juniors conceded a penalty. Sereki shot to the roof. The crowd raised a sigh of disbelief and was silenced minutes later when Shasthi's shot was nicked into his own goal by Sur. The teams were level and the climactic moments unfolded from there to bring about a dramatic finish.

Saturday's match: Semifinal: Mohun Bagan v Salgaocar Goa, 6.15 p.m.

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