The Hindu : Sport / Football : HAL claims second spot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 15, 2006

Sport

Sport - Football

HAL claims second spot

Principal Correspondent

BANGALORE: HAL and Vasco Sports Club played out a dull goalless draw during their second division match of the ONGC CUP National Football League, much to the disappointment of a decent crowd at the Football Satdium here on Tuesday evening.

The result helped HAL Sports Club finish second best in Group B, thanks to a better goal difference. Army XI has already won the group with 13 points.

With both HAL and Vasco on nine points from four matches, the crowd understandably expected more than what the two teams dished out.

The clash to decide second spot had an inauspicious start as both coaches — HAL'S Krishnaji Rao and Vasco's Mathew D'Costa — opted to fill the line-up with non-regulars.

Without Kenneth Onu, Xavier Vijaykumar, Satish Kumar and Gumpe Rime in the playing XI, there was not much substance in HAL's approach, though it did control the proceedings in the first half.

HAL had a couple of decent chances but Nanda Kumar and Rajesh Thomas failed to direct their shots on target while Raju's header off a Nanda Kumar cross, skimmed the crossbar.

The second half drew wide yawns as the ball was often confined to the midfield as neither team showed any urgency or interest in breaching the rival defence. It was only in the dying moments that Vasco made a few serious sorties. First, Oliveira Carvalho jabbed a Wilfred Gomes square wide and then Edmilson Santos's effort was gathered well by HAL goalkeeper Balaji.

How the teams finished (Read as played, win, draw, lost, goal for, goals against, points): Army XI 5-4-1-0- 5-1-13, HAL 5-3-1-1-7-1-10, Vasco 5-3-1-1-6-2-10, Indian Bank 5-2-1-2-3-5-7, Tollygunge 5-0-1-4-2-7-1, Assam Rifles 5-0-1-4-1-7-1.