The Hindu : Sport / Football : Tough contest on cards

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 21, 2005

Sport

Sport - Football

Tough contest on cards

Sports Reporter

Tiruchi: It's not going to be an easy affair for host Tamil Nadu when it meets Bengal in the final of the National under-21 football championship for the Dutta Roy Trophy organised by the Tiruchi District Football Association at the St. Joseph's College HSS grounds here on Tuesday.

This is the first time in 14 years that Tamil Nadu is playing host to the championship. A victory here would come as a perfect gift. Going by the records, the trophy, on most occasions, has stayed with the host team and Tamil Nadu would hope to continue the trend.

The Rock City has also been a lucky venue for Tamil Nadu in the past. The last time (1984) it played here it humbled fancied Bengal for the national sub-junior title. After a two-decade gap the team has a good chance to repeat its act against the same opponent.

The path to the final was pretty smooth for the host. It started with a bang, defeating a lowly Delhi 7-0. However, it was sheer overconfidence that cost the team dearly in its very next match against Services.

Having learnt a bitter lesson, the Tamil Nadu boys bounced back bravely taming the Punjab lions, the defending champion, by a 3-0 margin for a place in the semifinal. The Punjab defence had no answer to Tamil Nadu's attacking style of play.

In the semifinal clash against Karnataka, the host did survive some anxious moments. But it showed that it had the capability to cope with pressure-cooker situations.

The Tamil Nadu frontline, no doubt, is at its best. Centre-striker Muthuswamy has been having a lucky ride scoring the most number of goals for the team.

Kumaran and Davaraj have supported him well. However, the captain, Venkatesan, has to come out with something special if the team is to create history by winning its maiden title.

E. Durairaj has donned the midfield role to perfection and so did local boy Charles Raymond.

Bengal's great strength is its attackers. Both Suraj Mandal and S.K. Habib Ali are in roaring form and have a sound understanding. Lalkamal Bhowmick and Sovan Das have backed the wingers in a splendid manner.

Both Tamil Nadu and Bengal would be keenly looking forward to that early goal, which may well prove crucial.

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