The Hindu : Sport / Football : Rose on song

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Sport

Sport - Football

Rose on song

Sports Reporter

THRISSUR: Ebin Rose was on song. The prolific striker struck five goals, including a hat-trick, as Travancore Titanium powered its way to a 6-1 win over Basco FC, Malappuram in the quarterfinals of the N.I. David memorial State club championship at the Corporation stadium here on Tuesday.

Basco FC made basic errors in defence and failed to mark Rose. A few snap shots from the striker gave early indications of danger but Basco refused to learn from its mistake and allowed Rose to roam freely inside the penalty box.

Rose got into his goal-scoring act in the 10th minute when he flicked the ball off a corner taken by Abilash John. Five minutes later, Ebin scored with a flying header off a Abdul Hamed's centre. Rose turned the provider in the 28th minute as his precise cross found an unmarked Hameed and the striker coolly slotted in the third goal.

However, Titanium allowed Basco to reduce the margin through a rare counter attack from the Malappuram side. The move caught the Titanium defence napping and Ghani lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper's head in the 39h minute. But even before the excitement had died down in the stands, came the fourth Titanium goal through Rose again. He connected a long ball from the middle with an outstretched right foot and flicked the ball into the goal, which entered the net via a rival defender's head.

Rose continued his fine form in the second half and punished the Malappuram side for its sloppy defence. A fast counter attack from Titanium on the right flank created confusion in the rival defence and an unmarked Rose had no difficulty in placing the ball for his fourth goal in the 50th minute.

Playing for pride the Malappuram side dished out a few threatening moves. Captain Abdul Kader played his heart out on the right flank. Time and again he broke freely to stretch the Titanium defence and on a few occasions even managed to cross the ball. But the striker found little support from his fellow strikers. In the dying seconds, Kader tried his luck with a long ranger from top of the box. But the ball was tipped over by the Titanium goalkeeper H. Anil for a corner. A few seconds later Rose completed the tally by lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Aneesh who came out of his guard to thwart the striker.

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

Sport