Sport - Football

SAI pips TNSP

CHENNAI: Two goals by K. Venkatesan, one in the very last minute helped SAI to edge a fighting TNSP 2-1 on the opening day of the St Joseph’s-CFA senior division league at the Nehru stadium on Sunday.

Even though the rains abated, the ground condition was not conducive for two matches, hence the organisers decided not to go through the day’s first match, a first division encounter.

The slippery turf meant adaptability was the prime need and from the way the young enthusiastic bunch of SAI got around, the police side had a task in hand.

In fact in the very 13th minute Venkatesan showed the virtue of speed with his lovely run down the right flank. A flick at the opportune time had Suresh in right position for the kill but the latter only managed to deflect the ball back at the feet of Venkatesan, who made no mistake.

SAI needless slowed down and that helped the Police mount attacks. The second session was a reflection of that with Kanagaraj making amends (65th minute) with another solo.

But SAI’s fight was not over. Venkatesan showed it with his amazing opportunism close to full time. Seeing defender Dhanasekar dilly dallying, Venkatesan moved in stealthily and in a flash gained the ball and shot in perfectly for the match winner.

Earlier the Director of St Joseph’s College of Engineering B. Babu Manoharan inaugurated the league. — Special Correspondent

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