The Hindu : Ancheri masterminds JCT win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Ancheri masterminds JCT win

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI FEB. 17. Jo Paul Ancheri, inspirational as usual since extending his career with Jagatjit Cotton Textiles, proved his utility and versatility in a 2-1 verdict over Mahindra United in a National Football League game on Monday.

The multi-faceted international with a fearsome left foot functioned like an engine in the Phagwara footballing machine, setting up both goals for Hardeep Saini and Yeboah respectively after Mongba Aby Samson had struck a 25th minute goal for the Mumbai side.

Ancheri's larger-than-life presence loomed over Mahindra United, whose points-tally following this defeat is a mere 14 from 15 matches.

The muscular left-footed international, enjoying a free-wheeling role in the JCT line-up, dominated every area of the pitch, winning new respect at the Cooperage with his effective scheming in the offence and timely appearances in his own goalmouth to bail out the defenders.

MU settled down to an attacking rhythm in the first 35 minutes, leading by a Samson goal. The Ivory Coast striker stole the ball from Saini, surged into the JCT box before slotting home from 25-yards, past goalkeeper Mansoor Mohammed. It was a fine individual effort, but the Mumbai side strangely lost its momentum after that, even as Ancheri teamed up with Saini and seized the initiative.

JCT, whose points tally is 21 from 15 games, equalised in the 42nd minute through Saini, who capitalised off a melee following a throw, Ancheri heading the ball goal wards following a hasty Tapon Ghosh clearance.

The match-winner came in the 48th minute, again off a throw-in, this time Daljit Singh hurling the ball for Ancheri to attempt a back-header. MU goalkeeper S. Rajan was left in a quandary as the ball bounced off the crossbar into Yeboah's path, the latter gleefully tapping in.

Both teams created chances in an action-packed second half, the difference in both sides being in making use of opportunities. Samson and Hardeep Saini missed chances to put their name on the scorers list, tapping over the crossbar after getting the ball past advancing goalkeepers. MU employed a four-man midfield creating passes for the two-pronged strike duo of Samson and Brazilian import Nei Junior. They pressed hard in the closing minutes to reduce the deficit, but could not break open the Phagwara defence.

JCT, bringing in I.M. Vijayan in the latter stages of the match, used the spaces created by the retreating MU formation to let loose Ancheri, whose masterly show put to shade a clutch of foreign imports from different parts of the globe. Nei Junior, the latest Brazilian in the NFL, failed to strike for the first time after five matches when a goalmouth lob saw the left-footed maestro rushing across off the goal-line to put his body in the way.

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