The Hindu : Sport / Football : HAL enters final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 02, 2004

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Sport - Football

HAL enters final

BANGALORE, AUG. 1. Kenneth Onu had a mixed Sunday at the Football Stadium. However, the better part of his day was enough for HAL to book its berth in the final of the Puttaiah Memorial Cup league for super-division teams.

Onu's 17th minute close-range shot helped favourite HAL defeat CIL 1-0 in a semifinal clash. HAL did well to hold on to its lead despite being reduced to 10 men after Onu was given the marching orders with a red card in the 47th minute. And while Onu fumed on the bench, HAL stifled the odd sparks of revival engineered by veteran Saravana in the CIL ranks.

Onu got the red card minutes into the second half after he and CIL's Gopal Krishna were involved in a feisty tackle. While Gopal Krishna writhed in pain, referee Senthilvel flashed the red card.

Earlier, Onu's opportunism in the 17th minute helped HAL move ahead. A back-pass by Dayanand was relayed by Freddy and a dangerously lurking Onu latched on to it and fired the volley that beat CIL custodian Chand Pasha. HAL continued to dominate the match but goals proved elusive as Dayanand and Xavier failed to synchronise their moves despite searing runs.

CIL nearly equalised in the first minute of the second half as Saravana, James and Kanickaraj essayed shots off rebounds but their efforts were thwarted by HAL goalkeeper Subash Kumar. In the dying minutes of the match, CIL fired another salvo but with Saravana chipping a James pass over the crossbar, the battle was well and truly over.

In the second semifinal here on Monday, ADE will clash with SAI. The final will be held on Wednesday.

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