The Hindu : Yukubu nets winner

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 21, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Yukubu nets winner

Mumbai Dec. 20. Yukubu Uisof's 25th minute strike gave Churchill Brothers' its second victory in the National Football League at the Cooperage on Friday. This was Mahindra United's second defeat in a row here. The last time, it was beaten by Kolkata's Mohun Bagan's injury time winner.

From one win in six matches, both the teams had much to introspect and articulate a coordinated plan in the middle. Teams look for inspiration from matches won by big margins, but both Mahindra United and Churchill Brothers suffered on this count.

On Friday, the visitors looked the better side. Exchanges were not even and clearly Mahindra United was losing the ball to its opponent often and Uisof made the most of this weakness in the local team's defence.

Uisof's try before he successfully drove an angular grounder to the corner, was saved by a diving Mahindra 'keeper Naseem Akhtar. With 13 minutes left, Akhtar brought off another fine save. Uisof was central to Churchill Brothers' attack. Noel Wilson and Roque Barreto and Osumano Husseni were also busy right through the game.

There was a bit of action on either side for 10 minutes in the second half. R.C. Prakash and Monga Aby Samson took shots for Mahindras, but goalkeeper Edward Ansah proved equal to the task. Odartey Lawson came a cropper in a duel with Ansah in the last scoring chance Mahindras had. — Our Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport