Date:02/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010260251600.htm

Sport - Football

Kanyakumari ousts Tiruvallur

TIRUCHI: Kanyakumari ousted defending champion Tiruvallur 1-0 in the pre-quarterfinals of the State youth football championship for the A.G. Subbaraman Trophy here on Thursday.

The Tiruvallur strikers were off colour for most part of the encounter, finding it hard to control the ball. The midfielders too struggled to initiate the moves and their passes were not up to the mark. The Kanyakumari defenders stood like a rock and troubled the rival forwards, who were forced to go for long-rangers, many of which sailed over the post.

Kanyakumari was reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Nagarajan was ejected for two yellow cards. Undeterred, Kanyakumari kept up the pressure and made some dangerous moves.

Its positive approach reaped benefit when Jabersingh headed in a cross from Rajkumar in the 72nd minute. Tiruvallur tried hard to draw level, but the equaliser eluded it till the end.

Other results (Pre-quarterfinals): Chennai 5 (Venkatesh 3, Murugan 2) bt Krishnagiri 0; Madurai bt Namakkal 3-2 (penalty shootout).

Hat-trick by Gokul

S. Gokulakrishnan scalped seven wickets, including a hat-trick, as Eleven Star CC defeated Samiarthottam CC by 18 runs in the Dindigul DCA second division league here.

The scores:

First division: Sri Vasantha Sweets 269 for nine in 48 overs (Devendrakumar 100, R. Krishnamohan 69) bt Nike 250 in 41.3 overs (A. Suresh 55, T. Thirumalairaj 53).

Second division: Eleven Star 115 for seven in 20 overs bt Samiarthottam CC 97 in 18.5 overs (S. Gokulakrishnan seven for eight, including a hat-trick).