The Hindu : Sport / Football : Chhetri leads from the front

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Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Chhetri leads from the front

Principal Correspondent

KOZHIKODE: Skipper Sunil Chhetri led from the front in JCT’s 2-0 win against a fighting Viva Kerala in the ONGC I-League at the Corporation Stadium here on Saturday.

The AIFF’s Player of the Year was named Man of the Match for scoring a goal, paving way for another and being a constant source of worry for the Viva defence right through. Baljit Singh Sahni was the other scorer.

Notwithstanding the brilliance of Chhetri, it was a fine team effort by the Punjabi side. JCT defended stoutly, its ’keeper Karanjit Singh brought off a few spectacular saves and planned its attacks well. This, on a day when its in-form striker, Eduardo da Silva Escobar (the Brazilian came to this match with seven goals under his belt) had an off-day.

The Kochi side enjoyed more of the possession. Viva had begun promisingly, as it made a few threatening raids into the JCT half through Wisdom Abbey and Baba Thunde, who were being well fed by Awudu Adama from the midfield. But some good tackling by Anwar and Gurwinder Singh in the JCT defence frustrated the home team.

JCT took the lead in the 25th minute when Chhetri, from right under the nose of the Viva custodian M.V. Nelson, headed home a fine cross down the right from Marcos Periera, who also had an excellent game. It was only the second goal in the league for the small bundle of talents from Delhi, and as he said shortly after the match, it meant a lot personally.

“I have been playing in the midfield a lot this season, and this was the first time I was playing up front right through the game, so it felt great scoring that goal. The important thing is that the team keeps winning and today everyone on the field contributed,” said Chhetri.

He played a part in JCT’s second goal too; his perfect header, following a free-kick taken by Marcos, was given the perfect finishing touch by Baljit in the 68th minute.

JCT took its tally to 18 points from eight games to join Dempo SC atop the table. Viva remains in the fifth place with nine points from eight games.

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