The Hindu : Rennedy's penalty gives India full points

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 19, 2004

Sport

Sport - Football

Rennedy's penalty gives India full points

By H.S. Manjunath

MARGAO, FEB. 18. For all the freedom of space and possession India enjoyed for the best part of the game, the clincher came only in the form of a Rennedy Singh penalty. On the weight of that 49th-minute opportunistic strike India sealed a 1-0 victory over Singapore before a full throng at the Nehru Stadium here to open its campaign on a positive note in the Asian Zone Group III World Cup qualifier today.

India had numerous chances but had to eventually hang on to a 1-0 advantage which came its way four minutes into the second session. Going into an international without the famed `Fox in the Box' — I.M. Vijayan — for the first time in nearly a decade, the Indian dressing room had a pleasant `do well' call from him just before the match started. "Do we miss him? Yes, we do," coach Stephen Constantine said.

"Each one of them played his heart out for the side," Constantine said at the post-match press conference.

Baichung Bhutia held himself back a bit, keeping the slight hamstring strain in mind but around him Ashim Biswas and Alvito Rolland D'Cunha spanned out aggressively well to maintain a steady attacking streak. After India suffered an early blow in the form of a painful injury to Jo Paul Ancheri halfway through the first half, Constantine had no option but to pull him out. Until then, Ancheri had been doing well in attacking patterns. First nearly six studs from a Singapore chaser caught him just to the right of his stomach and then a knee rammed his hip. The impact was such that the normally sturdy Ancheri asked himself to be taken out.

A couple of impressive runs down the right by Samir Subash Naik kept the Singapore defence on high alert but it was Alvito who kept plaguing the opposition from almost every dead-ball kick. Having been involved in more than one goalmouth skirmish, Alvito's long-ranger had a goal written all over it until it came to nought when the ball's looping flight rammed the upright and bounced back into play. It was with some kind of relief that the Singaporeans took the half-time whistle, prompting the CEO of the S-League, Chan King Fook, to candidly admit that Singapore was surviving through sheer luck.

However, that stroke of luck deserted the team soon enough. Bhutia instinctively put Ashim through on the right even as the youngster darted into the box, the speed of his foot clearly catching the defence line by total surprise. In an effort to stall Ashim, Singapore defender Subramani brought him down inside the box and Iranian referee, Yasrebi Farajollah, instantly penalised the offence with a penalty.

The decision did not go well with the Singapore players, some of whom exchanged words with the referee. Rennedy stepped in and easily wrong-footed the Singapore goalkeeper to a collective roar of approval.

Testing time

In a clutch of exuberant thrusts, India created a few more opportunities but no goals. Into this demanding phase Nigeria-born Agu Casmir came in to reinforce the sagging Singapore morale. Casmir, who sports a trendy hair-do, brought fresh impetus to the Singapore attacks and there were several harrowing moments for the Indian defence.

Tan Kim Leng let go a scorcher, the flight of which was well read by Indian goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee, who manned the goal admirably well. Mahesh Gawli and Debjit Ghosh also did a compact job. Constantine gave young recruit Tomba Singh a good feel of the big occasion, bringing him in place of Alvito, who left the field to a thunderous ovation.

Subhash Chakraborty, who came in for Rennedy late in the game, had one good look at the goal, his cross across the goalmouth going unattended.

Constantine said it was one of the most impressive performances by an Indian team ever since he took over, strictly going by the kind of grit that went into the effort. He said the side had shown "brilliant fighting spirit."

Constantine also had a word of praise for the crowd, calling it "fantastic. We must thank the crowd. It really lifted our spirits," said the Indian coach.

Singapore coach Rodojko Aramovic said there were no hard luck stories. He didn't want to comment on the penalty but couldn't help pointing out that the Iranian referee made two errors in the moments preceding that piece of action involving Ashim. Aramovic said the latter was the one who had committed a foul on a Singapore player but the referee had overlooked it.

Singapore plays Japan next. When the Singapore coach was asked whether he believed he had a chance against the mighty Japan, Aramavoic said, "If you don't believe in yourself, you don't play football. If you go out thinking that `Oh, we are going to lose' then better don't play football."

India meets Oman next and Constantine felt that today's victory would further strengthen the side's resolve.

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