The Hindu : Sport / Football : Christian saves the day

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 25, 2005

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Sport - Football

Christian saves the day

Sports Reporter

KOZHIKODE: In a match in which two sides competed in wasting opportunities, State Bank of Travancore (SBT) and Salgaocar drew 1-1 in the ONGC National Football League at the Corporation Stadium here on Sunday. A fair result in the end, one for which SBT should thank its custodian, Jean Christian, who improved a great deal from his previous outing. He brought off a series of brilliant saves to walk away with the Man of the Match award.

His team-mate M. Abdul Basheer, who worked manfully and skilfully in the defence, must have run him close for that honour. It was indeed one of the better displays in the defence by the host side this season. ``We were a bit surprised by the way they defended in this game especially after being at the receiving end of their all-out attacks in the first leg,'' said Salgaocar coach Savio Mediera.''

SBT had won that game 4-3, one of the very few pleasant memories about this NFL for the beleaguered team, which could now plan in earnest its strategies for the Second Division next season. For Salgaocar, today's draw was a relief, especially after trailing till the 76th minute, and it did no harm to its attempts to avoid relegation. The Goans have now 23 points from 19 games and are placed seventh. SBT, with 14 points, retains the bottom slot, with just three games left.

Hopes dashed

SBT's hopes of taking the full three points from this match diminished when the visiting side's skipper Bello Rasaq from Nigeria found the equaliser off a flag kick taken by the Brazilian Fabio dos Passos. Christian had little chance to stop Rasaq's header, which found a remort corner of the net.

The host's goal had also come from a set-piece, as M. Mohammed Rafi headed in a free-kick by Paul Antony from the near box right, in the 14th minute, following Rasaq's foul against M.A. Abdul Hakkim.

SBT appeared to slow down the game for a while after the goal, contrary to its style of relentless attack.

Surprisingly, the team did not field its star striker and local favourite T. Asif Saheer, or Ignatious Sylvester, instead choosing to play V. Shivakumar and Martin John as the substitutes.

Salgaocar continued to press forward, spearheaded by the talented and hard-working Fabio, who was a constant threat. But for Christian, SBT would've struggled to save this match, as its forwards missed quite a few sitters.

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