The Hindu : Sport : Al Nejmeh downs Mahindra United

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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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Sport

Al Nejmeh downs Mahindra United

Vijay Lokapally

NEW DELHI: The distinguished Al Nejmeh Club from Lebanon overcame a spirited performance from Mahindra United, Mumbai, to finish the contest with a 2-1 victory. The first leg of the AFC Cup quarterfinal at the Ambedkar Stadium on Tuesday evening saw the local team give a good account of itself against a team that was expected to run away with the match.

Mahindra showed scant respect for the opposition’s reputation. Coach Derek Pereira, as usual, had done his tactical preparation to surprise the aggressive intentions of Al Nejmeh. By crowding the midfield where K. Ajayan played the dominant role, Mahindra ensured the opposition had to change its battle plans.

Mahindra enjoyed greater possession in the first half when Al Nejmeh appeared disjointed in its forays. The towering presence of Najjarine El Cheikh and Milan Bogunovic gave little space to the pair of Djidja Pierre and Andrews Pomeyie, the two foreign recruits in the Mahindra frontline but Steven Dias’s perseverance on either flank gave the Al Nejmeh a torrid time, not to forget the untiring Mohammad Rafi.

But Mahindra made the mistake of pushing itself too hard in the first half when Al Nejmeh was happy to assess the opposition, and launch some rapid attacks in the second session that produced all the goals.

Mahindra failed to stop Mohammad Ghaddar, a versatile striker who showed his class by knocking both the goals as Al Nejmeh fought back a 47th minute deficit. Rafi scored from close as the ball bounced off the palms of goalkeeper Abdo Tafeh from a header by Harpreet Singh.

The visitors’ hero

The hero of Al Nejmeh’s fightback was defender Khaled Hamieh, who covered an amazing area, overlapping frequently to threaten the Mahindra goal. The pressure that Hamieh created on the right allowed Ali Mohammad freedom on the left flank and the first goal came from a stunning counter attack.

Ali came up with a fine through ball that put Ghaddar on the course. Ghaddar outsped Harpreet and placed the ball into the corner in the 55th minute. Ghaddar should have scored one more but his volley from inside the box was a trifle awry.

Mahindra missed an opportunity when Pomeyie, who had a disappointing match, messed up a sitter set up by Pierre. Even as Mahindra attacked, it was Al Nejmeh which scored, thanks to Hamieh. His measured cross from the right was met strongly by Ghaddar, his powerful header giving goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury no chance.

The second leg of the match will be played in Beirut on September 25.

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