Tags:
Journalism of Courage
NAGPUR, August 1: Quick-learners Air-India A-I took no time to fathom the strength of unknown rivals Sporting Union, Bhopal, whom they knocked out of the Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup Football West Zone Tournament today at the Yeshwant Stadium.
Contrary to expectations Airmen8217;s 2-0 Anthony Fernandez 33rd, Godfrey Perreira 73rd victory came after a strong resistance by the Bhopal outfit specially in the second half of the inaugural tie.Only three minutes after the kick-off airmen established their attacking game-plan with forward Anthony Fernandez finding the net. But the goal was ruled out as off-side. The 10th minute saw skipper Khambiton Singh8217;s header go over the bar.
In the remaining minutes of the first-half Sporting Union tried all the possibilities to level the scores and they got a golden chance as the airmen were a bit tired and had lost their initial tempo.
The post-breather session offered some admirable show. Sporting Union8217;s combo of Vergees and substitute Rana Sen gave many a anxious moments to Air India, but luck did not favour them today as former missed an open net in the 55th minute.
The match also saw three players Air India8217;s Ajay Acharya and substitute Dennis George and Bhopal8217;s S Roychaudhari get yellow cards.
Godfrey Perreira won the man of the match award Rs 2,500, while Union8217;s Vergees also won a cash prize Rs 1,000 for his outstanding display.
LINEUP THE TEAMS:
SPORTING UNION, BHOPAL: Brotin Bannerjee 8216;keeper, Milan Dey Sachin Gurung, S Roychaudhari, Jasbir Singh Saini, Shakeel Akhtar Mohd Raees, Rehmat BaigRana Sen, Mohan Singh Bist, Ojit Singh, Shanker Basumatari, Rahmat Baig, Pawan Katiyal, Scaria Vergees. Coach: Shibu Jacob, Asst. coach: Arun, Manager: Asim Kumar Roy and Asst. manager: Satish Malakar.
AIR-INDIA: Yousuf Ansari 8216;keeper, Henry Picardo, Ajay Acharya, , Sandeep Kharat, Subir Sinha, Khambiton Singh capt, Khalid Jameel Dennis George, Taposh Ghosh, Godfrey Perreira Radhakrishna Dubey, Anthony Fernandez, Abbas Ali Rizwi. Manager/coach: Bimal Ghosh. Asst. manager/coach: Santan D8217;Souza.
