The Hindu : Sport / Football : Ferroviaria in final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Football

Ferroviaria in final

Principal Correspondent

KANNUR: Ferroviaria, Sao Paulo, played a near perfect game to earn a place in the final of the second E.K. Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup football tournament.

The Brazilians outplayed Bayelsa United 2-0 in the semifinal at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium here on Sunday night. Frederico Oliviera and Washington Luis were the scorers for the Brazilians, who made their intentions clear right from the beginning.

If Ferroviaria, which hasn’t conceded a single goal in the competition, plays in the final the way it did tonight, its Indian rival (Air India or Sporting Clube de Goa) will have a fight on its hand.

Fine move

The first goal came in the sixth minute with Oliviera heading home a splendid cross from Luis. The goal came off a fine move, down the left, initiated by Robinson Michel, one of the architects of the Brazilian victory.

Then, in the 27th minute, Luis struck. His half-volley, off a deflection of the Nigerian defence following a strike at the goal by Robinson, beat the Bayelsa custodian Fegor Fidelis.

Luis was one of the main reasons why the Nigerian defence was under so much pressure right through. When he left the field 23 minutes into the second half, he was cheered loudly by the huge and knowledgeable crowd.

The Brazilians also defended superbly, as Rodrigo Rizo, Alan Costa, Reinaldo and Dennis Augusto frustrated the Bayelsa strikers.

The Nigerians, so impressive in the league stage, got nothing right on the day. And they were reduced to 10 men when Inemo Wokoro was sent off for fouling Robinson in the 79th minute.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport