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Friday, May 06, 2005

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HAL flattens Indian Bank

Special Correspondent

BMFC-Karnataka Police in a goalless draw

AERIAL DUEL: HAL's Dayananda (left) and J. Ananda Vasan of Indian Bank vie for possession. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: Two goals in the space of two minutes flattened Indian Bank early on and despite a determined effort thereafter it could not prevent a 2-0 defeat to HAL Bangalore in a Group A match of the NFL second division at the Nehru stadium here on Thursday.

Earlier playing in far more humid conditions, Bengal-Mumbai FC and Karnataka Police dished out a goalless draw.

The crowd had waited for the Chennai team's match and it was an unexpected scene that unfolded. Short on match practice, Indian Bank showed a touch of disarray that was magnified once HAL broke through in the sixth minute. The lanky Dayanand, showing a clean pair of heels, capped a solo by neatly selling a dummy to goalkeeper Felix Edward.

Early supremacy

In speed and position-play, HAL showed early supremacy and the numbers that descended at the Bank end once action swung that way typified the mood of the Bangalore side.

There were more than one player ready to effect the kill, such was the scheming in the attack. Satish Jr reflected it with a great show of opportunism in accepting a Vijayakumar backpass to make it 2-0 in the eighth minute.

With a midfield that struggled despite Gregory Clark's best efforts to gain control and a defence that looked porous, Indian Bank had a tough time in putting its damage-control act in place. The lack of sting in the attack was an additional worry. The quick induction of Ananthavasan for Sudhakar to fortify the defence was the first sign of Indian Bank's concern.

The coming in of Joseph (for Harish) and Sabir Pasha (for Rozario) in second half added pep to the Bank approach even as HAL's initial flourish ebbed. However, had Rajendra Prasad not messed up a penalty (68th mt) after Ananthavasan fouled Dayanand, HAL's authority would have been complete. As it happened, a couple of shots at the HAL goal — by Joseph and Ananthavasan — could have been decisive had it not been for the frame-work.

Earlier Karnataka Police got a `goal' but the over-enthusiastic Arun Kumar poked at the goal-bound header by Srikanth to be caught off-side. That was the only moment of the otherwise dreary encounter.

There is no match on Friday.

Match drawn

PTI reports from Jamshedpur

Lajong Sports Club, Meghalaya held Kolkata's Ever Ready FA to a goalless draw in a group 'B' tie of the second division at the Keenan stadium here on Thursday.

The Kolkata outfit went all out right from the start and dominated the proceedings making repeated forays into the rival citadel. The Ever Ready boys capitalised on short passes and came close to scoring at least on three occasions but missed narrowly.

Both the teams paced up after the breather when the Meghalaya side started retaliating with long passes. Lajong players had an open opportunity to score 20 minutes before the long whistle but Birendra Thapa mistimed the shot and saw the ball going wide off the post.

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