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Iran beats India TFA Blue, enters final

By S. Sabanayakan

Iran's Mehrdad Oladi (left) scoring the winning goal against India TFA Blue in a J.R.D. Tata Cup league match at Jamshedpur on Saturday. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

JAMSHEDPUR SEPT. 20. The Indian National Anthem was heard at the J.R.D. Tata Sports Complex for the last time on Saturday as Iran scored a last gasp match-winner against India TFA Blue, with 20 seconds to go, and keep the tryst with Uzbekistan in the summit clash on Monday.

India Blue put up a splendid performance against Iran in the final league match of the J.R.D. Tata Cup International Invitational football tournament and still lost 1-2.

The experimental Indian side showed guts and gumption and fought till the last seconds before two sloppy defensive errors by the Indian goalkeeper, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, at the fag end of the match, did the team in. A draw or a win for India Blue would have lifted India White to the final.

India Blue coach Satheevan Balan, who had to rush to his native place in Kerala on hearing his father's demise, would have been proud to see his boys putting up such a fine display against the towering and well-built Iranians. India White coach Stephen Constantine took charge of the team and ensured it played its best match of the tournament.

Despite the limitations in size, the Indians showed good fitness and ability to play hard, hustling football and take the fight to the opponents. These tactics contributed in curbing the midfield dominance of Iran to a large extent. The matured Iranians used power and speed to maximum effect to breakthrough the Indian defence and the Indian goal almost fell in the 11th minute.

Nader Ahmadi pulled one back from right for Milad Nori whose shot rebounded of the Indian custodian's body. Milad Midavoodi placed the loose ball into the far upright and Roy Chowdhury recovered to collected it. Iran kept pressing for a goal, for even a draw would not help its cause.

Iran's hard work bore fruit in the 30th minute. Mehrdad Oladi squared a pass to right where Midavoodi advanced quickly. On seeing the Roy Chowdhury two steps ahead of his normal position, he lifted the ball over the custodian to give Iran the first goal.

The setback did not shatter the hopes of the Indians as they returned with greater resolve for the second half and kept looking for the elusive equaliser. The Iranians too changed their approach. The four defenders stayed back to thwart the Indian counters while the midfielders showed enough alacrity to initiate and join the attack.

When it looked all over for India Blue, came the equaliser five minutes before time. Substitute Sumit Thapa, who replaced Lester Fernandez, got a great goal. Rocus Lamare essayed a diagonal lob to left wing where Amir Reza Khanmohammadi tried to clear. The ball rebounded off Thapa's body. The Indian midfielder, sensing a chance, raced into the box and his left-footer on the run brooked no response from Seyed Mahdi Eslami. The galleries erupted in unison and backed the Indians to the hilt.

After substitute striker S. Kuttimani shot over a Suting Lekihi forward pass, Iran pressed hard for the match-clincher.

A back-pass by Thapa to the goal-keeper should have been cleared immediately but Roy Chowdhury delayed and allowed substitute Alireza Bagherinia to nudge the ball to the left.

In a desperate tackle, Alat K. Kyanta kicked the ball out for a flag kick.

Roy Chowdhury then made the second blunder when he fisted the ball for a flag kick when he could have easily held it.

The third corner kick proved fatal. Nadar Ahmadi's measured shot came to Mehrdad Oladi who weathered the challenge of Warun Deep to head home in the injury time.

The league table (read as Team, Played, Won, Lost, Goals For, Goals Against, Points): Iran 4 2 2 0 8 3 8; Uzbekistan 4 2 2 0 8 4 8; India TFA White 4 2 1 1 6 4 7; India TFA Blue 4 1 1 2 4 7 3; Bangladesh 4 0 1 3 4 12 1)

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