The Hindu : India White escapes with a draw

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

India White escapes with a draw

By S. Sabanayakan

India TFA White's goalkeeper Subrata Pal foils Iran's Nader Ahmadi's attempt in the JRD Tata Cup encounter at Jamshedpur on Monday. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

JAMSHEDPUR SEPT. 15 . Iran revealed its fangs, mauled but failed to kill India TFA White in the J.R.D. Tata Cup International Invitational football tournament here on Monday. The Indian team, virtually the National under-19 side, escaped with a 1-1 draw in the fifth league match and stayed in course for a place in the title round.

The big-built Iranians' maturity and power were incomparable to the frail and short-stature Indians, who despite the disadvantages fought, well within their means.

In the entire 90 minutes of action, India failed to break open the Iranian defence even once and had just two serious attempts at the goal. The second try earned India White the equaliser through stopper Habibur Rahman Mondal's 73rd minute header. Iran went into lead after a goalless first half through captain Milad Nori in the 58th minute.

Indian coach Stephen Constantine said he was happy to see his boys coming out with a draw considering that this Iranian team had players who played the final of the Under-17 World meet in Argentina.

"I am happy with the performance. I think the result is a fair one," he opined. The coach later ruled out further participation of injured Sutang Marlanki in this meet.

After a lacklustre performance against Uzbekistan in its first match, Iran display was a revelation. Despite losing Sayed Shababaldin Mirmoshaghal within two minutes of the second half for picking up second yellow card booking, the 10-player Iran looked formidable to the 11 Indians with their methodical approach both in defence and attack.

The speed, positional play and understanding marked Iran's showing. The four defenders were unbeatable in the air and gave little away on the ground; especially stopper Hanif Omranzadeh and right wing back Amir Reza Khan Mohammadi.

Hanif dwarfed Vanlal Rova and gave little time and space to manoeuvre while Amir Reza policed Vimal Pariyar out of the game.

Iran's four medios took on five Indian midfielders and dominated the most vital area with superior display. The Indian midfielders were not allowed the space to dribble or to initiate moves. It was pressing soccer with excellent screening. The Iranians worked so hard that whenever an Indian had the ball, three Iranians would converge on him to dispossess.

The Indians invariably surrendered the ball or directed the passes to their opponents making the task of Iran that much easier. Constant pressure on the defence called for reinforcement from the midfield and this neutralised the numerical superiority India enjoyed in the midfield.

It must be said that the India's back three played its heart out. Goalkeeper Subrata Pal was outstanding bringing off at least three superb saves. India tried the aerial passes and came a cropper against the tall and sturdy Iranian defenders. The other option was to keep the ball on the ground, which the Indians did not do as much as they should have.

The Iranian attack took threatening proportions when Ali Reza Begherinia replaced Mohammad Niknafs in the 56th minute. A good dribbler of the ball, this left wing midfielder had great vision and imagination. It was he who schemed the move that culminated inside the Indian goal. Two minutes after entering the field, Begherinia drilled a through pass to the top of the box.

The Indian defence surprisingly stood static, thinking it had the offside trap on. Iran's goal scorer Nori took off in a jiffy, ran between the two stoppers, controlled the ball well inside the box and brooked no response from Indian custodian Pal.

It never looked the Indians would come out of the game with honours even. So thoroughly and badly outplayed for most of the game, it was luck that saved the home side. Jerry Zirsanga, who had a fairly good game, was brought down on the right wing and he directed a dipping free kick to the middle of the Iranian penalty box. Call it a lapse in concentration or overconfidence on the part of the Iranian defenders, stopper Habibur Rahman Mondal went up unchallenged to perfectly connect and direct the header to the near post.

Iran pressed for the match-winner but some good defensive work and wayward shooting by the lone forward Milad Midovoodi undid all the great work the team did on the field.

Tuesday's match: Uzbekistan vs Bangladesh.

Table (P-W-L-D-GF-GA-Pts):

India TFA White 2-1-0-1-4-1-4.

Uzbekistan 2-1-0-1-3-1-4.

India TFA Blue 2-1-1-0-2-3-3.

Iran 2-0-0-2-2-2-2.

Bangladesh 2-0-2-0-1-5-0.

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