PSEB face WBEB in final

CHANDIGARH, May 3: Holders West Bengal Electricity Board and Punjab State Electricity Board set up a title clash in the 25th All India Elect...

CHANDIGARH, May 3: Holders West Bengal Electricity Board and Punjab State Electricity Board set up a title clash in the 25th All India Electricity Board football tournament being played at Sector 17 Football Stadium. In the first semifinal WBSEB blanked Orissa 3-0 while PSEB outplayed Kerala State Electricity Board 2-0 in a close second semi-final contest.

In the WBSEB-Orissa tie, the former domintated the match, but a goal eluded them till the first quarter. However, in the 34th minute Orrisa8217;s defender B Panda deliberately tired to stop the ball with his hand when A Hossan gave a pass to S Sarkar inside the penalty box and referee Dalar Singh immediately pointed towards the dreaded spot. S Dutta who, earlier, missed three golden chances, this time made no mistake 1-0.

On the counter-attack Orissa got an opportunity to net an equaliser, but R Malik shot wide.

Just before the lemon break, WBSEB failed to increase the margin when A Hossan8217;s sizzling shot sailed inches over the bar.

In the second session the Orissa team virtually gave up the fight and often crowded their defence. But that did not stop WBSEB from scoring another goal. In the 45th minute A Hossan beat the advancing keeper AK Manna to make it 2-0. And nine minutes later S Dutta got his second goal and team8217;s third, when he slided the ball into the net in a goalmouth melee 3-0.

Down by three goals Orissa conceded the match.

KSEB, who held strong PSEB team in the first half of the match 0-0, are themselves to be blamed for their defeat. A lapse in the defence gave PSEB8217;s striker Sandeep Saini a chance to score the goal in the 7th minute of the second half. Though KSEB put up a brave fight, were unable to carry the ball beyond the PSEB8217;s defence line, which was managed by Dalip Kumar, Manpreet and Sukhbir.

In the 18th minute of the second session, PSEB were awarded a spot kick and Dalip made it 2-0.