The Hindu : Karnataka, Services play out a draw

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2002

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Sport - Football

Karnataka, Services play out a draw

By Our Sports Reporter

MANDYA April 23. Nerves ruled while initiative was lost as Karnataka and Services played out a 1-1 draw. The M. Dutta Ray Trophy under-21 National football tournament's inaugural match at the M. Visweswaraiah Stadium here on Tuesday, ambled on before grasping life in the last 17 minutes.

The crowd broke its silence in the 82nd minute of the Group II match while Shivamani equalised for Karnataka. However, the host will have to thank its lucky stars and its rival's inexperience. Services was sitting pretty on a 1-0 lead until its hopes took a tumble with just eight minutes left for the final whistle.

A Gubindran run from the left was scuttled by the Services quartet of R.K. Mahto, Hemanth Lama, Sarat and Bikash Gurung. In the ensuing scuffle for possession, Gubindran was brought down inside the penalty area. Referee Anil Kumar had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Shivamani did the rest to raise Karnataka's slumped shoulders.

Perhaps it was Shivamani's way of making amends after his foul against L. Sangliana had brought smiles to the Services camp in the 73rd minute. Sangliana's lone-ranger act was a perpetual headache to the Karnataka defence when his scythe past the right flank triggered more alarm bells.

Shivamani's rough tackle earned him a yellow card and sent Sangliana sprawling onto the turf. The resultant free-kick saw the match's lone magic moment. Bikash Gurung did a dummy run and while the players constituting the wall watched him, Sarat Sauban's 25-yard stinger clipped past Chan Pasha's gloves and bulged the net.

Sarat's whoops of delight lasted just nine minutes as a defensive loophole helped Karnataka come back. However, Services could well nurture hope from its early runs past the Karnataka defence. Sangliana, Sarat and Jithen Meitei did enough to suggest an upset against the fancied host. But poor finishing undid their efforts.

Karnataka too had its chances. However when a Manjunatha effort sailed wide while his unmarked teammates Ashok and Govinda Raju were awaiting the pass, the match's error-prone script had its opening scene. Skipper Abhijith did justice to his roving medio's role but upset his clean slate with a yellow card.

Karnataka and Services took one point each from the drawn encounter. Karnataka coach Aslam Khan and Services coach K.K. Satheesan echoed their teams' inexperience factor in their post-match analysis.

Manipur takes on Goa in a Group II match here on Wednesday.

Earlier, Mandya constituency MP, Ambarish, inaugurated the championship.

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