Date:21/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042160561700.htm

Sport - Football

Bayelsa beats Instituto

KANNUR: The second E.K. Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup football tournament finally came alive before a big crowd on Sunday night. In a cracker of a contest, Bayelsa United (Nigeria) beat Instituto Buenos Aires De Futbal (Argentina) 2-0 at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium.

The beauty of Latin American football was pitted against the power and skills of Africa tonight. The Argentines have reasons to feel a bit disappointed with the margin as it was a very keenly-fought match.

Besides, they had treated the holiday crowd with a brand of football that only Latin America is capable of. Having said that, Nigeria earned its three points, though it played a bit roughly at times. Robinson Kingdom (83rd minute) and Okpose Martins (injury time) were the scorers.

Maximiliano Ractoret, the diminutive Instituto striker, may not have scored, but he walked away with the Man of the Match award and when he limped off the field, with seven minutes left. Bruno Conti and Dario Batalla also dazzled. The Nigerians, though, defended superbly.

The second half saw Bayelsa attacking with more purpose and the Instituto forwards tiring down somewhatThe Nigerians drew first blood with Kingdom heading home the free kick taken by Diseye Nwankwe, just outside the box on the right. Then, in the dying minutes, Martins, who was fed by substitute Operete Okara down the left, put the ball past an advancing Instituto custodian Marcos Juarez. — Principal Correspondent