The Hindu : Sport / Football : TN downs Karnataka

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Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006
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TN downs Karnataka

Kirti Patil

GURGAON: Tamil Nadu scored twice within the space of two minutes after a dull first half to beat Karnataka 2-0 in the group `B' quarterfinal league match in the 61st National football championship for Santosh Trophy here on Tuesday.

Strikers S. Sathish Kumar and substitute Jotin Singh scored in the 68th and 70th minutes, as Tamil Nadu earned its first points in the league. Seasoned striker Raman Vijayan had two chances in the first half, but the ageing Mohammedan Sporting player was slow in the front. Tamil Nadu replaced Vijayan with Jotin soon after the resumption and he raised the tempo of the game manifold.

Tamil Nadu has three points from two matches while Karanataka is yet to score any. The last year's runner-up Maharashtra and Kerala are the other teams in the group, each with three points from their opening encounters.

"After losing to a physically strong Kerala, we changed our strategy for this match and it worked fine for us,'' said Tamil Nadu coach V. Soundarajan. "Vijayan is ageing and we decided to give him the first half to show his mettle, but since things did not work we replaced him in the second half," Soundarajan said.

Goal disallowed

Though, L. Johnny scored off a header in the 25th minute the goal was disallowed as Vijayan had pulled down a Karnataka defender in the box. This apart,there was hardly any other exciting move. Karnataka squandered a good chance in the 63rd minute when Rajendra Prasad skied the ball from close range.

Five minutes later, Tamil Nadu changed the complexion of the match completely. Johnny sent a long pass to Sathish Kumar, who dribbled past two defenders before lobbing the ball over the head of Karnataka custodian, Gumpe Rime. Playmaker K. Koluthungan seized yet another chance for Tamil Nadu and set up Jotin, who found the net with a diving right-footer.

Stung by two quick goals, Karnataka pushed hard for an opening. In the 72nd minute Tamil Nadu defender, N. Mohanraj handled the ball in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. But M. Satish Kumar failed to beat Tamil Nadu 'keeper V.P. Sathish Kumar, who guessed right and punched the ball out.

Desperate Karnataka now started played rough. Once Sathish Kumar clashed mid-air with his namesake the Tamil Nadu 'keeper. Kutti Mani then going for a header elbowed Mohanraj in the jaw forcing the referee to pull out the red card.

Despite being reduced to 10 men Karnataka defended well in the last 15 minutes. In the injury time, Kulothungan threatened the Karnataka goal when he moved up from the left and sent a curling shot that just missed the top right corner of the post.

Goa scores over Bengal

Goa, playing like a champion, defeated Bengal 2-0 in a Group `A' quarterfinal league tie on Monday. The first win for Goa, after its loss to Punjab on Saturday, left the qualification battle in this group wide open.

Goa earned its first three points while Bengal remained on three after two matches. Punjab is on four points from two matches with a decisive tie against Bengal remaining. Haryana has one point from two encounters and a match against Goa on Wednesday.

Goan strikers Peter Carvalho and Fredy Mascarenhas scored on either side of the half even as hapless Bengal struggled to finish its moves. The ignominy of losing to Punjab in the opening tie spurred the Goans to go all out.

Wednesday's fixtures: Haryana v Goa (4.45 p.m.) and Punjab v Bengal (7 p.m.).

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