The Hindu : Sport : KSEB survives a scare, downs Central Excise

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

KSEB survives a scare, downs Central Excise

Principal Correspondent

KOZHIKODE: Defending champion KSEB overcame the absence of some key players, a disastrous opening half and a two-goal deficit to register a remarkable 3-2 victory against Central Excise in the opening match of the Royal Challenge State football league here on Tuesday.

Trailing by two goals, KSEB was staring at a defeat at half-time. Both the goals were virtually gifted to the Kochi team through bad defending and goalkeeping.

Shabir Ali, who drew the first blood for Central Excise in the sixth minute, and N.P. Risham (15th), made full use of the defensive errors. At this stage, KSEB looked hardly the same team that won the State inter-club championship at Manjeri recently. Well, it wasn't the same team. "Seven of our players from that team are not here because of injuries," revealed coach S. Joseph. Anil Kumar, one of the most dangerous strikers in the State, was particularly missed, as was K.S. Joby in the defence.

KSEB struck back in the second-half. Prince Paulose headed home the first goal in the 60th minute off a free kick by Shyam from the right edge of the box.

In the 72nd minute, captain Ramesh found the equaliser with what was the goal of the match — a volley from just inside the box off a cross from Shyam. Rajeev's winner in the 80th minute, a sliding header off a Dinraj cross, wasn't much inferior though. On Wednesday, SBT takes on Cochin Port Trust.

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