Mahindra United romps home

By S.R. Suryanarayan

CHENNAI, AUG. 20. It is easy to slip but, as has been the pattern, very difficult to regain lost ground. ITI Bangalore thus joined the list of first round losers after Mahindra United Mumbai romped home with Surkumar Singh's first half goal in a pre-quarterfinal match of the Federation Cup football tournament at the Nehru Stadium on Monday.

The hard and far from satisfactory ground has been a subject of intense discussion among various competing teams here. The consensus has been that no first outing will be easy. So caution has been the watchword and to that extent this has eroded the frills of the game, for a loss means curtains straightaway in the knock-out format.

Considered the most gained team in the transfers, Mahindra had a reputation to defend and a dream to pursue. After all it had a pack of India players in its ranks. However, injuries to some key men had left Mahindra with very tight option.

Still when the contest began it was ITI which seemed to be closed of all options from the way the players groped for direction. It was the flash of Red (read jerseys) that often swept the turf with the ITI end coming into siege in no time. As always, a few moments of trial and error followed, stemming from close finishes that culminated with the 13th minute gem from Surkumar Singh. The highly rated wingback showed his prowess at shooting with a snap left-footed try from over 20 yards out and so accurate did he target the ball that the usually agile Balaji under the ITI bar could only sway, the ball caressing the far upright as it stole in.

Pepped by the success, Mahindra kept up pressure, and forced ITI on the defensive. Surkumar was to essay a right-footed shot later that barely missed entering the cage, the near-side post coming in the way. This man certainly had a nose for goals. Inspired were Abhishek Yadav and Raman Vijayan to try their luck but Balaji, despite a bleeding injury sustained after a collision with one of his colleagues, clung on.

The change of ends brought ITI suddenly into an attacking mould. A touch of complacency perhaps crept into Mahindra play and it was just as well that this did not prove costly. But Mahindra end came under stretch though with two tough Nigerians there, Habib Adekunle and Bernard Oparanazie, ITI enterprise often died at their feet, nay heads. Seldom did Manjit or Sanjeeb escape their hawk like vigil. Coach Habib tried substitutions but to no avail. Substitute Trijit Dass' back header close to full time off a Syed Hussain cross was about the only ITI effort that called for Virender Singh's alertness. But the India goalkeeper, despite a touch of fever, was never extended.

First tie-breaker of tourney

Later in a battle of attrition, more than a match of skills, the outcome fittingly had to come through the penalty shootout, the first in the current tournament.

Salgaocar pipped Punjab Police 5-4 in the tie-breaker after the teams had failed to break the deadlock in regular play and also extra time. J. Murali, V.K. Harish, Climax Lawrence, Dharamjit Singh and Remy Colaco converted for the Goan team, while Naresh Kumar missed the final kick after Balwinder Singh, Sher Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Gurinderpal Singh had helped the score go neck and neck. Salgaocar thus moved into the quarterfinals.

Tuesday's matches: Zee Churchill, Goa v SBT, Thiruvananthapuram (4.15 p.m.); Mohun Bagan, Kolkata v Air India, Mumbai (6.30 p.m.).

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Dilhara Fernando: destiny's child
Next     : Toms edges out Mickelson to take title