The Hindu : Sport / Football : Titanium romps home

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

Sport

Sport - Football

Titanium romps home

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Except in its name there was little challenging about Pondicherry Young Challenger's as Titanium Kerala romped home 7-0 winner on Sunday in a Group IV match of the NFL second division qualifying tournament at the Nehru stadium.

Barring a first minute effort of earning a flag kick and then a snap shot at goal that Balaguru essayed, though to no avail, in the dying moments of the match, there was little that the Pondicherry side did against the taller and sturdier opponents. Indeed had it not been for the benevolence of Referee Syed Md Yeasin, who chose to ignore two serious goal-area infringements that should have brought up penalties, Young Challengers's defeat would have been far more inflated.

There was a method in the way Titanium went about, the accent being on short passing and swift running. Ebin Rose and Usman were the men in front but the focus was on Abdul Hameed, Boniface and Rafi Jacob who joined the attack from behind.

In the 14th minute itself, Hameed made the most of a Rafi cross from far that goalkeeper Kadhar Hussain could not intercept. Then after Ebin was denied a penalty once, earned it in the 23rd minute when Dayrvin brought him down. Ebin himself converted. Goals became imminent at each turn now though it was only Usman and Ebin who scored (25th and 43rd min).

The second session presented no respite for Challengers. Titanium effected substitutions, replacing the goal scorers with fresh legs. Of them, Shajahan seized the opportunity to score twice in quick succession (66th and 73rd min) and with just a minute remaining, substitute Sajan Louis completed the tally.

There is no match on Monday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport