Maharashtra and Sikkim fight it out, literally

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 16. The semifinalists were spotted but the sheen was lost as scuffles marred 35th Junior National football championship at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Friday.

Bengal and Manipur from group-A, and, Bihar and Tamil Nadu from group-B are the teams to have entered the semifinals. In the first match of the day, Maharashtra defeated Sikkim, 2-1, and Tamil Nadu was the beneficiary. However, the match deteriorated into a free-for-all, denting sporting spirit.

Maharashtra's lone win secured it three points from as many matches while Sikkim was pegged at two from three outings. The outcome however, helped Tamil Nadu (4 pts) to clinch the second spot next to group-B leader Bihar (7 pts).

Both Maharashtra and Sikkim lacked initiative and the first half saw a pedestrian fare. The second half did have lots of action but it was of the unsavoury type. A scuffle between Sikkim's Puspa Gurhang and Maharashtra's Amit Pawar became a free for all and it was a tough act for referee K.N. Thrivi and the organisers to ensure order. Puspa Gurhang and Amit Pawar walked away with the red cards.

Maharashtra took the lead in the 58th minute, Rauf Khan making full use of a penalty after Sikkim's Sisir Karthak had brought down Ajit Jairam Kokate close to the goal-mouth. Maharashtra increased the lead in the 74th minute as Arun Kumar Dhuriya's left-footer off an Ajit Jairam cross from the right, left Sikkim custodian Bimal Bagdas stranded. Sikkim's lone goal came in the 78th minute, Lamey Chemey heading in an Amas Subba lob.

Match commissioner S. Kadaksharamurthy has recommended that Sikkim be suspended, specifically its player Chopel Dadul. His decision awaits ratification from the All India Football Federation.

The match between Bengal and Manipur in group-A proved to be a let down. Both the teams had two wins each before Friday's showdown and sparks were expected to fly, but did not.

Bengal drew the first blood, in the ninth minute, with Mehtab Hossen tapping in an Abir Basu cross from the left.

In the 28th minute, a solo run and a deft left-footer by Bengal skipper Trijit Das left the Manipur defenders-Ranabir, Jamkothang Baite and S. Santa-gaping.

Manipur's solitary goal was scored in the 50th minute: Shyamsunder, substituting for Saijalal, headed in a goal-mouth melee rebound.

Bengal has nine points from three matches; Manipur is now in the second slot with six from three outings. The semifinals will be held at the same venue on Sunday.

Semifinal line-up: Bengal vs. Tamil Nadu; Bihar vs. Manipur.

Quarterfinal standings (read as under played, won, drawn, lost, points): Group-A: Bengal 3-3-0-0-9; Manipur 3-2-0-1-6; Karnataka 3-0-1-2-1; Orissa 3-0-1-2-1. Group-B: Bihar 3-2-1-0-7, Tamil Nadu 3-1-1-1-4, Maharashtra 3-1-0-2-3, Sikkim 3-0-2-1-2.

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