Uttar Pradesh qualifies

By Our Sports Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 19. Orissa and Uttar Pradesh made it a memorable day for the unfancied as they stunned Punjab and Karnataka respectively to end a series of predictable results in the Junior National football championship for the Dr. B.C.Roy Trophy here on Saturday.

Both Orissa and Uttar Pradesh gave scant respect to the form book and scored identical 1-0 wins over their rivals. Uttar Pradesh qualified from the three-team Cluster VI with an all-win record and rendered the last match between Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir meaningless.

Punjab after its impressive win over Rajasthan was on a high but was brought down to earth by the gritty Orissa side. Though the match-winner by captain Sarwar Ali was a freak one, the credit should go to Orissa which never allowed Punjab to settle down and play its traditional physical game.

The pace of the nimble-footed Orissa players created confusion in the Punjab defence which at times looked pedestrian. On the contrary, Orissa defence was organised and the defenders with quick clearances nipped many Punjab raids in the bud.

Both the teams had an equal share of the exchanges in the first half but neither side came near scoring. As the match meandered along came the goal which changed the course of play. Sarwar Ali, who advanced down the right wing, sent in a high lob from 30 yards towards the Punjab goal. The ball dipped into the net over the head of Punjab goalkeeper Mohammed Ikram who was caught in an awkward position.

Orissa played a more attacking game in the second half and held the upperhand in the midfield. The Punjab goal survived another disaster in the opening minute of the second half when Hemanta Das of Orissa weaved his way through the defence and took a right footer which was palmed away by Mohammed Ikram. The Punjab custodian again came to his side's rescue when he brought off successive saves to deny Nirnajan Das and Hemanata Das.

Punjab pressed hard in the last quarter but the Orissa defence was equal to the task. Jitender Kumar got the best chance his team got in that period when he failed to connect a cross from Sarbjit Singh.

Earlier, Rajasthan held Andhra Pradesh to a goalless draw and it gives Punjab an outside chance to qualify from Cluster IV. But Orissa with four points from two matches is better placed and it plays the weakest team in the group - Rajasthan - on Monday.

Uttar Pradesh pulled off a solitary goal win over Karnataka to advance into the quarterfinals. Striker Jai Prakash Yadav turned out to be the hero for Uttar Pradesh scoring the match-winner in the 18th minute. However, the goal came against run of play following a counter attack.

Jitender Singh broke down the left wing and unleashed a stiff right footer which was pushed away by Karnataka goalkeeper Nagendera. But the rebound came to unmarked Jai Prakash Yadav who made no mistake. Karnataka despite making a strong impression in the midfield did not have the sting in its attack to test the organised UP defence. Once or twice it broke the rival defence only to see its forwards missing easy chances.

Play rarely rose above the level of mediocrity in the second half. Karnataka played listlessly and failed to find the equaliser.

Karnataka plays Jammu & Kashmir in the inconsequential Cluster VI match tomorrow.

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