The Hindu : India to meet Uzbekistan in final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 30, 2003

Sport

Sport - Afro-Asian Games

India to meet Uzbekistan in final

By S.R. Suryanarayan

HYDERABAD OCT. 29. Bhaichung Bhutia got among the goals and I.M. Vijayan retained his touch to enable host India to carve out a convincing win over Zimbabwe on Wednesday for a place in the final of the football event in the Afro-Asian Games here.

Both these stars scored two goals each, Bhutia in the 40th and 83rd minute (penalty) and Vijayan in the 25th and 33rd minute. P. Renedy Singh (58th mt) was the other scorer. For Zimbabwe Alberto Mbano in the 4th mt., Edmore Mashiri (81st mt penalty) and Simon Chipunza (87th mt) were the scorers.

In the final on Friday (Thursday is a rest day), India will take on Uzbekistan, which edged out Rwanda through a `golden goal' by substitute Boyev Konstantin. Easily the most prepared squad among the visiting lot in this competition, Uzbekistan surged into lead in the 63rd minute through Saidov Mansurjon. Within nine minutes however Rwanda restored parity (72nd), courtsey Jimmy Mulisa. The contest then stretched to the extra time phase and in the 12th minute of the first session, the golden goal from close range by Boyev Konstantin brought an end to an evenly contested tie.

Two semifinals were played at the same time at different venues. This was a departure from the original schedule but became necessary after overnight rains had rendered the turf soft at the Lal Bahadur stadium. To safeguard the turf from severe damage considering the final ahead, the authorities decided on shifting one semifinal to the Goshamahal stadium.

Understandably the focus was on the Indian match for the high expectations and surely the team came up trumps but not before a hiccup and some highly charged retaliatory effort by the visitor. The early reverse, when Mbano was able to roll the ball in from close after Ronald Badza had fed from near side, woke the up the `giant'. What followed were gigantic steps by the Indians as they clinically finished off the African nation, which is ranked 50 on the FIFA list but has looked an apology of that stature here.

No matter that for, a victory is a victory and in this case was achieved with a certain panache rarely seen from the home team. "Right from the beginning we were bent on giving our best and win this tournament,'' said a relieved skipper Bhutia after the match and confident of achieving the goal.

The path to victory, as has been the pattern in this competition, was laid by the `fox in the box' as I.M. Vijayan is described by the Indian coach Stephen Constantine. Each match has been a brilliant commentary of this quality player, who has decided on quitting from international football after this Games.

The equaliser he got was typically his patented style, a steal into the rival end and pounce on an opportunity. Defender Matora's faux pas in clearance was enough for Vijayan to hoodwink goalkeeper Chenjerai Dube. Eight minutes later Vijayan did it again, a backheader as he rose with a clutch of defenders for a long ball from Climax Lawrence and Dube was left stupefied. On both occasions, Thomba Singh was the supplier and the Manipuri once again had a memorable match.

When Vijayan is in the mood can Bhutia not be inspired? Sure enough the wait for his first goal in the competition ended with a peach of an effort, a shot on the turn.

When the goings became tough, the Zimbabweans, already finding the heavy underfoot conditions to their disadvantage decided on tough measures by stretching their robust approach a trifle. The second session thus witnessed interruptions galore, the Indians suffering most in the rough tackles but the worst moment came in the 61st minute when Matora stamped Bhutia, who had gone down in a crunching tackle. Out came the red card for Matora from referee Mohd Salleh of Malaysia.

But the contest did not lose edge. Renedy's rivetting goal from 35 yards hereabouts livened up proceedings but Zimbabwe showed its strength through substitutions. Tsida and Mashiri arrived to provide goals. Twice striking the bar, Mashiri found the net via a penalty after Satish Bharathi handled the ball in the box.

Though Bhutia immediately nullified it with a penalty at other end after he was cut down by Moyo, the Zimbabwean fight-back produced another goal and those last moments were the worst for the Indian end. Fortunately for India that did not stretch long.

At Goshamahal in what was a closely fought contest, two mistakes resulted in the two goals in regulation time, both coming in the second session. First Rwanda goalkeeper Mossi failed to grasp a through ball by Jasur and Saidov close by did the damage. Soon it was Iganity's turn to fail under Uzbek but only because Yaroslav came in the way of Jimmy Mulisa's shot. Uzbekistan cemented its place in the extra time thereafter through the golden goal.

The results: India 5 bt Zimbabwe 3; Uzbekistan 2 bt Rwanda 1.

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