Sport - Football

Chennai regains trophy

MADURAI MAY 19. Chennai regained the A.G. Subburaman Memorial Trophy after a lapse of two years defeating Tiruchi 3-0 in the final of the 12th annual Tamil Nadu youth inter-district football championship conducted by Madurai District Football Association at the MGR Race Course Stadium here on Sunday.

Chennai was definitely the better side and deserved to win. It exhibited good team work and there was good rapport between the forwards and the defence. The midfielders worked hard and they went up with the forwards initiating good moves and at the same time nipping in the bud any move by its opponent.

Right-half Ramanathan was easily the best player in the defence and it was he who initiated many a move. The forwards too moved with good understanding and had not outside-left Gowrishankar missed a number of chances, the victory margin might have been still better.

While Tiruchi missed only one chance, Chennai missed three for taking the lead. Off a fine centre by Tiruchi outside-left Selvakumar, outside-right Ajayan fumbled in the goalmouth before Chennai's left wing-back Ramesh cleared the ball. For Chennai, off a flag kick taken by left-half Ramu, Gowrishankar volleyed beautifully but the Tiruchi goalkeeper Ramesh brought off a good save. Then from a fine cross from the left by Ramesh, outside-right Kumaresan headed the ball over the cross bar. On another occasion, Gowrishankar, latching on to a through pass from Kumaresan, went down the middle and took a fine shot on the run which was well saved by goalkeeper Ramesh.

However, Chennai could not be denied a goal and that came in the 30th minute, when Kumaresan found the net off a through pass from Jothikumar. Thereafter Chennai took the upper hand and dictated teams. Substitute Antony Arulsamy, who replaced Kumaresan scored off a pass from striker Jeyakumar in the 55th minute and Ramanathan completed the tally in the 70th minute, surprising goalkeeper Ramesh with a fine 25-yard grounder.

Mr. B.T. Bangera, President, Madurai District Football Association, presided and Mr. S. Ramachandran, District Collector, Madurai gave away the prizes. Mr. D. Mukundan, industrialist, welcomed the gathering. Mr. R. Sadacharam, secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.

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