Sport - Football   

Karnataka and Kerala share honours

By Our Special Correspondent

Kerala's Shaaji (middle) tries to get past Karnataka's Pemmaiah during the under-21 South Zone phase of National Football championship at Tiruchi on Sunday.

TIRUCHI APRIL 13. Karnataka and Kerala shared two goals to bring up the first draw (1-1) in the current South Zone phase of the under-21 National football championship at the St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School ground on Sunday.

Both teams can share the blame for the result. While Kerala paid the price for momentary slackness, Karnataka's indifferent attitude after it had taken the lead cost it precious points.

In fact, it was a day of indifference for the Karnataka team. It started with the players taking the field wearing jerseys that were not uniform in colour. "They had come with only one set of jerseys which clashed with the Kerala's colours", explained Match Commissioner S.S. Salian who obviously sounded helpless. But it certainly was a poor reflection on the State unit.

It became quite hot today after the bearable heat the last few days. And the plight of the young players can well be imagined in this hot weather. Still, the contest started spiritedly with both teams grappling for supremacy. It was during this period that Kerala committed a faux pas when its defence inexplicably allowed a passing bout between Shamu and Kuttymani to develop.

Once Kuttymani sent the ball to the opportunistic Sreenivasan, the Kerala defence was in tatters. The hapless Kerala goalkeeper Titus charged late to miss Sreenivasan's deft push in the 18th minute.

Stung, Kerala regrouped admirably. Sudeesh and Mohammed Rafi made several interceptions in the middle for Anees and Aseem upfront. Joining them often were Denson and Shaaji. Flag kicks and free kicks came routinely for Kerala as it kept up the pressure.

The Karnataka defence coped well with skipper Pemmaiah being the pick, but sacrificing sharpness in attack proved its undoing. That defending a slender lead can be dicey almost came true close to the half-hour when a Sudeesh header had Shivakumar almost slicing the ball into his own cage.

The respite brought about a change in Karnataka's attitude and the proactive Kuttimany did his bit to bring clarity into their thinking. The lanky lad worked tirelessly to trigger action upfront. But it was Kerala which succeeded in the 63rd minute through a Joby header off a Sudeesh flag kick to leave the Karnataka defenders in despair.

Exchanges then turned frenetic. Karnataka came the closest to scoring but substitute Arun Kumar's volley in injury time saw the ball skimming the crosspiece on the way out.

Monday's match: Andhra Pradesh v Pondicherry.

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