The Hindu : Sport / Football : HAL trounces ASEB

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Saturday, May 01, 2004

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Sport - Football

HAL trounces ASEB

BANGALORE, APRIL 30. Home favourite HAL registered a 4-0 win over Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) in a Second Division National Football League Group `A' match at the Football Stadium here on Friday. This was HAL's second consecutive win in the league.

HAL was without the services of its regular goalkeeper Balaji, who was ruled out with a right shin fracture. But his replacement, Amit Singh Roy, had a calm day at the office, as the ASEB strikers were often back-pedalling to support an insipid defence.

The early minutes of the match saw HAL's dominance as Rajendra Prasad and Santosh Kiran raided the ASEB goalmouth. ASEB crowded its defence to keep the rival attack at bay. But Rajendra Prasad put HAL ahead converting a penalty in the 21st minute which was awarded after Satish Kumar was brought down by M. Swargiary near the goal mouth.

HAL skipper Dayanand scored the second goal in the 42nd minute off a Rajendra Prasad pass. The 2-0 lead at the break had its increments in the second half as ASEB remained diffident. However, HAL had its share of last minute glitches with Xavier Vijaya Kumar kicking wide and Rajendra Prasad ending a good run with a weak right footer.

HAL soon recovered and with Sunil slotting in a sharp pass, Xavier Vijaya Kumar got enough time in the 71st minute to put the ball past Basumatary's futile leap. Xavier was again in the thick of action as his floater from the left extreme was deflected into the goal by Satish in the 79th minute. — Our Sports Reporter

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