Romania assert their superiority

Romania, ranked 13th by FIFA, showed exactly why they are, as the team, a second string youth side composed despite most of them in their lay-off period, began scoring as early as the fourth minute. Thereafter a rush of blood by Hong Kong only reduced the margin, but finally it was superiority asserted. Romania aided by twin-strikes in either half the first set by Zahriue Liviu (4th minute) and Sasu Marius (24th), which later was capitalised upon by Sanmantean Lucian (58th) and Luca Lona (63rd), completed their league encounters with three points, after losing to Jordan. Hong Kong, who kept abreast till the half-way stage reduced the margin through livewire Kwok Yue Hung.

A flashy move on the right wing, initiated by deep defender Bar Sergiu, had Zahriue Liviu set the scoring pattern, who, with a right-footed blinder left custodian Xiao Gyoji beaten to the roof, but not before defender Chan Wai Ho was caught unawares. Hong Kong could never combine initially with medio Chan Ho-Man not finding his passes be read by strikers Yeng Cheng-Kwong and Kwok Yue Hung. With confusion upfront, defender Szeto Man Chun ‘surviving,’ after he deliberately brought down Sanmatian Lucian.

Hong Kong did get into the groove and managed to push forward their first goal bound move through the initiative of mid-fielder Yeung Ching Kwong. A switch of flanks had Poon Yiu Cheuk make inroads into the Romanian box, but his low cross-meant for Chan Ho-Man went a begging as Chan was yards behind leaving defender Gilmencea Remus the opportunity to clear.

A goal for Hong Kong at this stage meant they were getting into rhythm. Chan, moving quick, cut past Remus and released to Kwok on the right. Moving in a couple of steps Kwok slugged home past an advancing ’keeper Angel Eugen.One-all and Hong Kong conceded an unnecessary penalty-kick. Defender Szelo Man-Chun in a bid to restrict a dangerous Lucian pulled his shirt, right in front of referee AM Yapa (Sri Lanka), who made no mistake deciding. Marius who stepped up slotted it to the left of the keeper.

The goal saw Romania attack at will and had Zahriue head inches wide and then again muff up a placement, from handshaking distance, after Zlati Aurelian played him from the deep.

Thereafter, Hong Kong too had luck deny them. One chance particularly would go down as ‘bad luck’ when Kwok twice had the bar deny him a goal. On the first instance, he directed his header on to the vertical, off a Chan cross and then the rebound that followed saw his right-footer find the horizontal in the way. Kwok’s tireless running finally bore fruit when he delivered the coupe de grace to level scores and keep a match on hand into the final minute of the first half. Yeung Chung Kwong finding Kwok on the right, released a good 20-yard lob. Kwok, gaining possession, sidestepped Chibuteam Alin and finished with a deft chip over keeper.

Changing ends, two quick goals and a tiring Hong Kong unit left a rather dull end to the game. Romania, with two quickies first when Lucian found the net from the top-of-the box after a the defence failed to mark and a crisp header by Luca Lona off a Paul Gheorge corner, left the Asian side dazed.

Jhumpa Lahiri steals the show
Empty stands at the Yuba Bharti Krirangan cut a sorry picture. It doesn’t really reflect the true spirit of the soccer-loving Kolkatans. Both the matches played so far had produced a handful of spectators who were mostly school students and VIPs. The one-lakh capacity stadium wore a deserted look on the first two days; it seems football is no more a passion for the people. In and around the stadium, the discussion hinges not on Chile or Japan but on Pulitzer prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri’s wedding. Lahiri’s wedding, scheduled to be solemnised here on Monday, has the who’s who in the list of invitees. Among the celebrities include state’s poet cum Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya.

Soccer field to political battleground
AS you weave past the security personnel at the main entrance of the stadium you come across a huge cut out of former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. One might wonder whether the Left-Front headquarter has been shifted from Alimuddin Street to stadium. No, actually the stadium has become a favourite ground for myriad political rallies and meetings and cultural programmes. Given the recent political development in the state, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress too has decided to hold a convention on January 28.

Aminul Islam