Sport - Football

Ameachi adds to Goan folklore
By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 21. `If not Sebastiao then Ameachi Nwasunwanne will get the goal', has been Goan team Pax of Nagoa's tale in the South, in the second division National Football League. On Thursday there was further proof of this in the Group I-second phase when Nigerian Ameachi showed the opportunism to pip CSL-Bhratri Sangha of Kolkata, 1-0, here at the Nehru Stadium.

If exuberance reflected Bhratri Sangha's initial burst when any number of pot shots were taken at the Nagoa citadel, then the occasional, but menacing looking thrusts formed the rejoinder from the Goan team.

Had it not been for that brilliant stop by goalkeeper Binu Purushothaman albeit through a face-saving dive towards the goal-line to stop the ball after taking the brunt of the fierce right footer from Khalique (39th), the Kolkata team could have been sitting pretty in the first session.

As it turned out, that was the closest Bhratri Sangha came towards scoring. The Goan team had two tricky forwards in Ameachi and Sebastio and they could be quite a handful, particularly the former. Long-limbed and deceptive in his movements, Ameachi did not immediately look a scorer when Bibiano Fernandes sent a through ball towards the rival box. The Nigerian charged even as defender Arun Malhotra, who otherwise had a fine outing, tried to size up the danger. In the midst goalkeeper Avijit Mondal rushed out. Ameachi saw the emerging confusion and joined in, won the ball and rolled it past the two rival players into the empty cage.

For the admirable defence work where Bibiano, Selwyn, Domnic and Bello Rasaq looked ever alert, and for the sharpness up front, Nagoa's win seemed quite in order, but Bhratri Sangha lost precious points.

``I wish we had gained at least one point through a draw,'' lamented the Kolkata team coach, Shabbir Ali, reflecting his disappointment.

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