Sunday, Apr 27, 2003
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Football
By Our Sports Reporter
Ignatious twice chanced on a defensive lapses by Air India and scored from long distances to give SBT a memorable win, and also a life to stay afloat in the league. The victory gave three points to the Kerala team which meant that one more win for SBT, in its final league match against the favourite Mohammedan Sporting on Tuesday, will see it through to the 2004 Premier League. Air India, which lost to Mohammedan Sporting in its opening match, had itself to blame as it allowed a handy 2-0 lead slip away. The Mumbai team started spectacularly, scoring its opening goal in the very first minute of the match. Striker Anthony Fernandes chanced on a Naushad Moosa's long throw-in from the right flank leaving the SBT defence in a disarray. After a melee, Fernandes saw a free ball and tapped it in to make it 1-0. Air India's right winger Steven Dias was one player who impressed with his good ball control. He ruled over more than half the field on the right side creating several chances. In the 11th minute, Dias took a long pass fed by a defender and crossed it to the rushing centre-forward Suprith Jathanna. The striker took it on the half-volley and banged the ball in for 2-0 lead. But, that was just about the end of Air India's show. Because, SBT showed immense courage and conviction to strike back despite being in the low. Ignatious and N. P. Pradeep together made some excellent moves which also boosted the morale of other team members. In one such Ignatious-Pradeep effort, the line umpire ruled Pradeep off-side. Otherwise, the 31st minute effort by Ignatious from the right flank was a remarkable. Pradeep had dived flat out to `score'. SBT scored its first goal in the 34th minute when M. A. Abdul Hakkim headed in K. Ajayan's corner kick. At that juncture, Air India should have tightened the screws, but it was not to be. Instead of keeping up the pressure, Air India recoiled into the defensive allowing more play into its half. Practically, Air India produced just one real chance once SBT was in the upswing. Anthony Fernandes made a solo run from the left flank in the 44th minute and went up till the box unchallenged. But his curving right-footer was nicely caught by SBT goalkeeper P. V. H. Rehman. The equaliser came in the second half, in the 51st minute of the match, N. P. Pradeep provided a pass from the centre and K. M. Abdul Noushad made no mistake in placing the ball into the net. Once the equality was achieved, it was time for Ignatious to take over the proceedings. On a long ball from the centre, Ignatious took advantage of a defensive lapse by Air India and took the ball unchallenged right into the box before scoring in the 53rd minute Then, Ignatious beat an off-side trap and moved ahead with a brisk speed to put SBT 4-2 ahead, which was to stay as the winning margin.
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