Tamil Nadu recover to beat Andhra

Bengal began on an auspicious note in the first few seconds. Following the kick-off, a through ball was received by right-winger Swapan Das, who sent in a diagonal pass that beat the advancing UP goalkeeper Badruddin Ansari.

After this goal, the Bengal side did not anticipate an attacking game from their opponents. However, the holders’ defence withstood the pressure as they went in for the break.

On resumption, UP seemed more determined and changed their strategy with excellent aerial passes. This unsettled the Bengal defence but again UP forwards messed what would have been a good opportunity to equalise. With little bench strength, Bengal played a waiting game and struck their second goal 12 minutes from time. Off a corner kick, which held its line, Syed Rahim Nabi took a clean shot with defenders on goalline well entrenched.

The game between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh began on a dull note with teams indulging in more of aerial passes than anything worthwhile until Arvind Kumar of Andhra Pradesh used the melee to his team’s advantage to open the account. But that was all they could do in the remaining period of the game.

For, it was Tamil Nadu’s turn to take a leaf out of AP’s book to attack. They did it admirably and earned a `spot kick’ in the 47th minute when M. Manikandan was tripped by Mohd. Majid Khan. Referee Syed Sujauddin indicated to the spot and Y. Raja hit the roof even as AP goalkeeper Syed Bin Mehsan dived to his right.

This had perked up the Tamil Nadu camp to go for an all-out win. Attacking on the flanks they should have consolidated their position. However, Mehsan stood like a rock to thwart them. Meanwhile, Arvind Kumar could have done what his opponents could not do. His shot, a feeble one, was too straight to TN ‘keeper V.P. Satish Kumar.

Off the counter-attack this time, Tamil Nadu made sure of full points. Manikandan sent a cross from the middle to left-winger S. Nagalingam. The latter had all the time in the world to beat two bemused AP defenders. Another golden chance was missed by N. Abdul Kapoor but it did not alter the course of the result for Tamil Nadu.