FC Kochin, ITI share honours

By Our Special Correspondent

KOCHI, FEB. 5. ITI, Bangalore almost kept its fairytale away record against FC Kochin intact before a superb second-half goal by Jo Paul Ancheri helped the home side to a 1-1 draw in the fifth National Football League at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Monday.

Yet, the fact that the match offered practically nothing other than the goals for the moderate gathering can hardly be overlooked. In fact, the lack of creativity, craft and cohesion in the midfield of both sides stood out like a sore thumb right from the start. And to make matters worse, the momentum of the game was also spoiled by some poor decisions by the referee of the day, Walter Pereira.

However, unlike Air India, the other day, which persistently followed a defensive plan of action before going down, ITI seemed more keen to press hard and take the battle into the rival camp. But a steady stream of mispasses and the inevitable confusion that followed often gave enough time for the FC Kochin defence, led brilliantly by Jo Paul Ancheri, to keep the Nigerian duo of Kenneth Ugwo and George Ekeh at bay.

Things were no different at the other end despite the presence of the long-striding Rashidi Williams, back after a one- match suspension. Though the Liberian did work hard to keep relaying the ball to his colleagues upfront, there was little support for him from the rest of the midfielders, especially Anoj and Eugene Gray, until Vijayan withdrew from the firing line and moved over to the middle.

Even this did not bring about the desired result for the home side, which was then left to make its presence felt at the rival half through quick counters, often designed through long clearances from the back and some hasty lobs from the middle. Consequently these attempts, too, did not help FC Kochin make the expected impact as the forwards - Aaron Cole and Hemanathan - fell into the trap laid for them by the ITI defence.

Perhaps the only moment Cole looked dangerous was when he smartly outsprinted Majid Atia, ITI's Iraqi defender, and put Vijayan in possession. But, left only with the job of conquering the ITI custodian, Vijayan muffed this great chance when he sent the ball over the cross-piece.

FC Kochin was almost immediately penalised for this lapse as ITI forged ahead through a penalty, a minute before half-time.

The penalty was earned by George Ekeh, who on being fouled by Ancheri jumped into the box forcing the referee to point to the dreaded spot. K.V. Dhanesh converted the penalty without much fuss. Down by a goal which had come much against the run of play, FC Kochin was quick to reinforce its attack with the induction of Sunday Seah and Rajesh Kumar, leaving Dinesh Nair, who till then had played in the defence, to guard its citadel.

There was a sense of visible urgency among the players of the two sides as the game resumed, with both teams leaving little to chance and employing their full might. However, fortune seemed to be more in favour of the home side which equalised through a brilliant long-ranger from Ancheri, off a free-kick, that gave Mark Mascrenhas absolutely no chance to stop the ball.

Buoyed by the success, the home side then was in full cry to earn a deserving win but was stopped from doing so by the poor marksmanship of its frontline and the hard-tackles employed by the Bangalore side, which in the last 10 minutes was reduced to 10 men following the expulsion of Dhanesh for an unnecessary tackle on Cole.

FC Kochin will next play against Mohun Bagan here on February 10, while ITI will meet Tollygunge Agragami in Bangalore on the same day.

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Section  : Sport
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