The Hindu : Sport / Football : Air-India, JCT play out goalless draw

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Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
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Air-India, JCT play out goalless draw

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Air-India withstood Jagatjit Cotton Textiles onslaught, gradually dictated ball possession before wayward shooting by striker Njoh Jean forced it to settle for a goalless draw in the ONGC Cup I-League fifth round game here on Wednesday.

The tall Air-India forward broke free on the right and with goalkeeper Karanjit Singh waiting on the goalline, hit a hurried shot wide to negate the Mumbai team’s best chance to break the Phagwara team’s unbeaten record.

Karanjit saved a snap attempt in the goalmouth by Bashiru Abbas, the second African forward in the home team line-up.

Air-India soaked up early pressure emanating from impressive JCT build-ups, the closest the visitors came to scoring was when Abdulateef Seriki, the huge JCT striker, anticipating a swerving free-kick at the left post, popped up in the goalmouth for a glancing header. The ball spun inches past the post.

JCT has 11 points from five matches and Air-India four points.

Livewire Sunil Chhetri, tireless in the pursuit of the ball, found himself outnumbered with Air-India assigning three players to thwart the India striker.

irmal Chettri was named ‘best player’ for poise under pressure.

JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh utilised the full quota of substitutes but the flowing passes seen in the first half were missing.

Chhetri turned and twisted with the ball at his feet, but with red-shirts dogging each step, became frustrated.

Air-India retained momentum till the end, so should consider itself unlucky to split a point against one of I-League’s leading sides when a surprise victory appeared in sight.

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