BSF scrape past Kerala Police

Police team dominated the scene right from the start earning two corners in first five minutes but a couple of ill-directed shots was ll that they could manage. Soon, Police striker Mohammed Basheer floated a good cross from the left only to see his fellow striker Nowshad, who was too slow to edge in.

Though the policemen had ample of chances, they missed everyone of them which incurred the wrath of the crowd. Their frontline headed by veteran C A Liston, many a time, found it difficult to either connect or net in the ball supplied from the midfield.

The Police wasted away the free kick they earned inthe 32nd minute of the game when Nowshad was brought down by one of the BSF defenders. The resultant free kick taken by skipper Kurikesh Mathew from near the box line was glided out by BSF custodian Bibhas Saha with elegance.

On the other end, Police goalkeeper P T Mehboob, too, made a brilliant save off Jalandhar side’s Prashanto Dass powerful kick.

Even after changing ends, the policemen kept up the tempo. The duo of Nowshad and Basheer pierced the BSF defence time and again but fumbled at rival goalmouth. Very soon, Nowshad grabbed the ball sent upfront by Edison off a throw by C P Asokan. The striker, sorely missed the support of his teammates at the goal-mouth, and his attempt missed by inches.

Minutes after, Prashanto Dass, who shone in BSF line squandered the Police defence off a counter attack but the long ranger which sailed into the far corner of the net was fetched by Mehboob who exhibited some acrobatic display below the bar throughout.

The match winner for BSF came when substitute D SNegi, who lurked in the Police post got hold of a Prashanto Dass cross from the left. As none of the Police defenders was in a position for an aerial clearance, Negi positioned himself and booted home from near the penalty spot.