The Hindu : Sport : Assam holds a fighting Bengal

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Wednesday, May 23, 2007
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Assam holds a fighting Bengal

Principal Correspondent

Kerala ends its run of successive losses

— Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

MARKSMAN MARKED: Farhad (centre), who netted Kerala's goals, being challenged by Delhi players in their match on Tuesday.

GUWAHATI : Host Assam held defending champion Bengal 1-1 in the concluding quarterfinal group league stage of the National under-21 football here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.

The teams tied at seven points each, but the host, with a better goal average, topped the group.

Kerala ended its run of successive losses, beating a spirited Delhi 2-1 in the morning engagement that was played only for pride. Both the teams had crashed out of the tournament after losing their second round matches.

Assam will meet the group `B' runner-up Punjab in the first semifinal on Thursday while holder Bengal takes on the group B topper Goa in the other match on Friday.

Breezy attack

As a spell of shower before the match rendered the turf soggy, Bengal made judicious use of the flanks wresting the early initiative against Assam.

The holder mounted breezy attacks and found an early lead (15th min) with striker Ayan Chowdhury finding the Assam net off a fine effort. The second goal remained elusive as Chowdhury (twice) and Ashim Das failed to finish from close.

An error from Bengal custodian Arup Debnath, who mistimed the ball while clearing a lob from Assam defender Sunil Basumatary, gave the host the much-needed equaliser in the 77th minute.

Bengal was unlucky to go ahead again in the 85th minute when substitute Mohammad Nadim missed an easy chance. In the first match of the day, Kerala overcame North Zone topper Delhi. Compared to its subdued performance in its previous two encounters, a positive midfield drove Kerala to a dominating position against Delhi.

Kerala shot into the lead in the 25th minute through striker Farhad, who converted a cross from Dhanseh.

Delhi fought back and found the equaliser in the 39th minute through striker Kulbhushan Mandelwal, who unleashed a smart lob to catch the Kerala custodian, Sreenju S., stranded. But the Delhi joy was short lived as Farhad found the lead again for Kerala latching on to a fine through-pass from Dhanesh. The second session ended barren as Kerala successfully preserved its first-half lead.

Wednesday is a rest day.

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