Tags:
Journalism of Courage
January 6: Kasif Jamal8217;s equaliser against Air-India put Churchill Brothers on the points table with a 1-1 draw in a Second National Football League at the Cooperage today.
Jamal gave no opportunity to Air-India custodian Shyam Sawant as he fired home from close range. The equaliser came in the 28th minute off a header from Nigerian striker Chibuzor, acting on a cross from medio Mario Soares.
Earlier, Air-India shocked the visitors in the 14th minute with a Khenthang Paite right-footer from 30 yards off a back pass from Khogen Singh. Churchill 8216;keeper was beaten as he reacted late and ball dipped in.
The Churchill defence tightened after conceding an early goal, with left stopper Ratan Singh 8212; who later won the Man of the Match award 8212; striving hard to tackle striker P J Jose, substitutes Abbas Ali Rizvi, Anthony Fernandes.
A-I surprised the visitors with a reshuffled line-up. Libero Godfrey Pereira moved up to the striking zone along with Jose, with Taposh Ghosh, Jacinto D8217;Silva and Khambiton Singh handling the mid-field. The change seemed to work well for the local side till the Jamal equaliser.
Custodian Sawant came up with some brilliant saves after another shaky start. However, one of his tackles in the 72nd minute on Marcus Coehlo had the Churchill players protesting for a penalty, which was ignored by referee SR Sagayanathan.
Air-India lost another opportunity when Jose waited a bit too long in executing a right-footer in the 28th minute when substitute Rizvi sent a curling ball from the right. Fernandes, in a quick action, put through to Jose, who dispatched a powerful shot outside the framework.
Churchill captain Tejinder Kumar, suffering from fever, threatened the A-I defence as he took two blistering right footers from the top of box, which could have affected the final score. On both occasions, Jeevan Moras came to A-I8217;s rescue.
Later, Tejinder admitted the team was not playing to potential which they showed during the Rovers Cup but was still happy with the score as they got their first points in their fourth match. Bimal Ghosh, coach and manager of the airmen, was not satisfied with the result as he wanted full points from a home match. He brought in Fernandes and Rizvi in place of international Periera and D8217;Silva as both tired and started limping. Ghosh admitted, 8220;the goal was scored because of a defensive lapse as Jamal got enough time to place the ball home.8221;
