Ashok performs hat-trick for Karnataka

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 5. Indian Football Association (Bengal) made a thunderous entry into the 35th Junior National football tournament notching up a 5-1 victory over Pondicherry in group III. From group I, Karnataka ensured its passage into the quarterfinal stage carving out yet another impressive victory, this time defeating Gujarat 4-0. The hero of Karnataka's win was striker Ashok who performed the first hat-trick of the tournament.

In the matches at YMCA stadium, Rajasthan defeated Andhra 1-0 with Biju Nair scoring in the 59th minute while Chandigarh and Bihar played out a goalless draw.

Bengal's youth team IFA made a strong start to its campaign. Early in the third minute Bhiman Singh slipped past the Pondicherry mid-field and passed the ball to Supratikayne. Supratikayne weaved through the backs and shot past goal-keeper S. Prakash's outstretched hand. After this effort IFA failed to get its rhythm right.

Passes were going awry till the 26th minute when things fell into place again for the Bengali boys. Saikat Mondal crossed to Supratikayne and a weak effort trickled into the Pondicherry goal agonisingly slowly. Pondicherry showed glimpses of its co- ordination as Amarnath fed striker K. Gopi with a neat pass. The latter was well positioned to score. However the 28th minute goal was Pondicherry's solitary gain in the match.

IFA now began to play with better team work. In the 36th minute Arindam Hazra relayed to Mahtab Hossein who in turn passed on to Trijit Das on the left wing. Trijit tapped the ball in with ease.

A minute after the half time, Trijit was again the cynosure of all eyes. A dazzling move saw him scythe through the defence and send in a sizzling drive. The ball hit the right post but deflected in to notch up IFA's fourth goal. There was more in store for IFA as in the 65th minute Arindam Hazra sent in a flag kick to Abir Basu substituting for Supratikayne. Basu headed the ball in deftly.

Karnataka was the first side to make the quarter-final grade. Notching up its second straight win, the home team slotted four goals in past the hapless Gujarat side. Karnataka's Ashok who missed a couple of chances on the opening day ensured that no opportunities went abegging in the second game. In the first instance in the tenth minute Karthigan's flag kick sailed smoothly over to the waiting Ashok who nodded the ball in. Eleven minutes later Ashok trapped a pass from Vinod Kumar and finding an almost vacant goal with Nilesh Patel in the wrong corner, Ashok gently tapped the ball in.

Ashok scored his hat-trick in the 33rd minute. A floater from Karthigan from the right wing saw Ashok in the right place and he headed the ball in competently.

Karnataka's fourth success came from substitute R. Vinod replacing namesake Vinod Kumar. A long shot from Vinod went rolling into the goal with no defender able to impede the ball's progress over the line.

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