The Hindu : Jeyasuriya stars in Indian Bank's win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Jeyasuriya stars in Indian Bank's win

CHENNAI MARCH 10. This is another Jeyasuriya from Sri Lanka who can be a delight on a football field. `Player of the match' Kasun Nadika Jeyasuriya was the toast of the small gathering at the Nehru stadium on Monday when he blasted three goals in Indian Bank's flattering 6-1 win over lowly ITI Bangalore in the Oil-PSU national football league.

The win strengthens the Bank's stay in the premier league with 20 points now from 18 outings while the defeat piled up further agony on the Bangalore outfit, which now cannot escape relegation. Nothing went right for ITI, but worse was the show of petulance by a few players when defeat became certain late in the game. Players like Sunil Kumar, Dhanesh and Firoz , to name just a few, were fortunate to remain on the field despite unsporting acts, Referee Benjamin D'Silva of Goa appearing to be sporting.

For all this, it was ITI which had started on a dominant note. The way Ghanian Jude Nawadu, Ibrahim Karim and Najeeb swarmed into the rival end, Bank goalkeeper Sebastian Netto was tested early. But the Bank goalkeeper was in good form and was confident in grabbing the aerial balls.

The one time he was beaten was through the touch of class shown by Najeeb, who sent a volley in via the underside of the crosspiece. But Netto could be pardoned there, for the Bank by then (43rd minute) had taken a remarkable 3-0 lead. How this turnabout came is the story of Jeyasuriya and Sabir Pasha, who at long last found his wonted touch.

It was Pasha who turned the game around with a brilliant goal (29th), sending in a left footer through the narrow gap between goalkeeper Gumpe Rime and the goalpost. Nine minutes later, his 30-yard essay had rival defender Sunil and Gumpe messing up with Jeyasuriya around.

In a flash the Lankan had inflicted the damage. Further two minutes later, Pasha beat an off-side trap to put past onrushing Gumpe and the popular player sank on his knees to kiss the turf in absolute delight.

Akshay Das' madness in overlooking Jeyasuriya's presence deep in ITI defence cost the visitor the next goal (54th), a superb show of opportunism, which ended in a booming kick into the cage.

Jeyasuriya added another two minutes later and the contest had slipped out of ITI's grasp. Nothing reflected this better than the final act by Dhanesh in tapping Bank player Suresh Babu's cross into his own goal.

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