The Hindu : Indian Bank manages a win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Indian Bank manages a win

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 16. After a string of losses, Indian Bank finally managed the ecstasy of a win with a 2-1 effort over HAL Bangalore in a close but lively match in the Oil-PSU National Football League at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday. All the goals came in the second session.

Remaining on 11 points after 13 outings, the anxiety of the local team was understandable as it set out for its next home match. There is respite now with the three precious points gained, though for HAL it was another shattering blow. Having slipped to the 11th spot and struggling to get out of `relegation zone', the team's morale dipped further with this latest loss as it remained on seven points but now off 14 matches.

But this was a match that was alive till the very last minute. Indeed if only HAL substitute Satish Kumar had managed to slam in Nigerian Kenath Onu's cross instead of targeting the horizontal in the dying seconds of the contest, the tale could have been different. Also, if only Indian Bank's Stanley Festus had not messed up an unbelievable one-to-one opportunity with HAL goalkeeper Mark Mascarenhas, well HAL's agony could have been sealed long earlier. That in a nutshell summed up the way fortunes swung in the needle match.

To say HAL was unlucky would not be far from wrong because more than once the framework came in the way of genuine shots from the Bangalore side. The only consolation that the visiting team could think was that the Bank had missed sitters, Festus' attempt apart. Sabir Pasha slipped uncharacteristically, then Sri Lankan Jeyasuriya Nadika failed though he atoned for it with a gem, a one-touch shot on the turn off an Imran long ball (65th). That proved the match winner and made him the automatic choice for the Rs 5000 `Man of the match' award.

Ten minutes earlier substitute Joseph had put the Bank ahead with a well-judged header off a Ravi Babu floater only to see Rajendra Prasad heading in the equaliser immediately after. This came when Netto blocked a pile driver by Mahendra Mani from top of the box.

The contest livened up from there, reaching the high pitch after Nadika (the Man of the match) struck. The Bank defence looked in panic in the final moments but time slipped away leaving HAL players in a shock while joy lit the other side.

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