The Hindu : HAL outwits Mahindra United

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 16, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

HAL outwits Mahindra United

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI APRIL 15 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited broke Mahindra United's heart with a spirited display of attacking football, capped by a superb 79th minute match-winner from lanky Dayanand, whose fierce swerving left-footed strike will remain etched in memory.

A fitting finale to the Mumbai leg of the Tata National Football League campaign, the 2-0 victory on Monday for the Bangalore side confirming an eighth place, aggregating 29 points to sign off two positions below its fancied rival (sixth, 33 points).

Mahindra United needed a victory to redeem its reputation as one of the high-fliers in the NFL, but was beaten by a more opportunistic side.

The Mumbai side, a goal down after 15 minutes into the second half after Jimmy Mulisa managing to convince referee S.Bhattacharya into awarding a penalty, did not give up hope till Dayanand struck with his left.

Rajendra Prasad rolled the ball back for his lanky colleague to shoot on the run, the ball struck as it rolled with the left outstep from outside the box.

The Mahindra United defence did not anticipate such an audacious attempt and was still in the process of shifting positions when the ball took off, flying through the defence and swerving past goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar's outstretched right hand to bulge the net. The Mumbai team custodian, standing in for injured international goalkeeper Virender Singh, had shown alacrity when tackling dangerous situations.

His work under the bar kept Mahindra United in the hunt through the goalless first half, but was beaten when facing a penalty kick, given by referee Bhattacharya for an apparent foul on HAL striker Mulisa inside the box.

Two Mahindra United defenders trying to get the ball away from the huge forward were hoodwinked by his body movements, followed by the striker's fall and the penalty decision.

Akhtar lunged to his left, but was beaten by the placement from substitute Rajendra Prasad, scoring with a low shot to the right post.

From then on, it was HAL goalkeeper Subhash Kumar's turn to face the heat as the Mumbai team mounted desperate search for goals, but came out with flying colours, dealing confidently with crosses and centres from the flanks hit towards substitute Abhishek Yadav, who headed the ball thrice but was off target.

Teammate Austin Okolo took a red card in the 55th minute for a foul on Peter Siddiqui, who was also sent out reducing both sides to 10 players each.

The contrasting emotions in the two camps told the story. HAL earned a moral victory and a beaming coach H.Chandrasekhar announced a reward of suit lengths for all the boys. Mahindra United coach put up a brave front, but the future is uncertain for him and the players, though five of them have been named among the Indian probables for a national tour to South Africa.

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