The Hindu : Sport / Football : ICF, AG's share honours in a dramatic encounter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

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Sport - Football

ICF, AG's share honours in a dramatic encounter

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 8. League champion ICF and AG's played out an exciting 3-3 draw in the CFA senior division super league at the Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.

For AG's office this was a grudge match after the defeat it suffered at ICF's hands a few days ago. That result gave ICF the league title but today's was a different experience. And when AG's went ahead, one distinction that ICF had taken pride in, not conceding a single goal in the league phase, was wiped away. But ICF ensured that its other distinction, of retaining an unbeaten record, remained, but after much drama!

With a new player in the frontline — Ashok Kumar — Coach Thulasi must have thought that trump card Ravi could be used sparingly. But Ashok needed time to settle down and in any case AG's, despite being without Muthu its key weapon up front, appeared hungry for revenge. The way Pugazendhi made deep inroads ICF had a task in hand. Then came the fall through that brilliant goal from 25 yards by Justus Antony for AG's. That was also the first sign that goalkeeper John David could be shaky, something he had never shown earlier.

Ravi thus had to enter early and expectedly earned ICF the breakthrough after a one to one with a desperately charging AG's goalkeeper Ramu, who in the process also knocked down the former. Referee Pradeep Kumar signalled a penalty and Ashok Kumar converted. However, ICF goalkeeper David undid the good work by allowing the feeblest of pushes by Rajmohan into the cage in injury time to help AG's change over with a lead.

The tempo mounted, action too. ICF had a new keeper (Prakasam) but it was AG's end that was under fire. Where AG's players seemed to be tiring, ICF's were in the never-say-die mode. Perseverance paid off for ICF with an Ashok Kumar header (72nd mt) for parity before Jagan Sr seized the lead in the 82nd minute.

The fluctuating fortunes did not stop there for with a minute to go, Justus' brilliant thinking helped unmarked Selvakumar score the equaliser. For the day's efforts no team deserved to lose.

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