The Hindu : Karnataka manages to beat AP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Karnataka manages to beat AP

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI APRIL 17. Karnataka managed a 1-0 win over Andhra Pradesh, which was insufficient for it to remain in contention for the top spot in the 12th South Zone phase of Under-21 National football championship at the St Joseph's higher secondary school ground here on Thursday. With an all-loss record, last year's qualifier Andhra Pradesh bowed out finishing last in the league.

The outcome meant it will now be a straight contest between host Tamil Nadu and Kerala for the passage to the inter-zonal championship in UP next month. All that Tamil Nadu now requires is a draw where a win is a must for Kerala, pointers then for a good final day contest tomorrow.

Karnataka needed a 10-0 win margin to remain in the race. For then with 8 points as final tally, it could force a three-way tie should Tamil Nadu and Kerala play a draw. It could have then settled the issue in its favour and at the expense of the host on `goal difference'.

All that remained a dream once it failed to show the required potential against what proved to be the weakest team in the bunch. The way Nandakumar and Manoj Kumar kept fumbling, some from handshaking distance of the goalkeeper, Karnataka's agony had begun early. Where the team should have been sitting pretty with a four-goal lead by half time, it was lucky to escape without a shock. Indeed Hannan's shot from 45 yards, around half time beat Karnataka goalkeeper Nagendra all ends up but the ball struck the crosspiece and bounced into play.

Not surprisingly the man who lost his way for Karnataka in the midst was the skipper Pemmiah himself. A good defender, Pemmiah showed fickle temperament to get booked twice, the second making it an automatic expulsion at the 30th minute of second session. By then, Karnataka had earned a goal through R. Sreenivasan. Sreenivasan showed his capability with his 63rd minute goal, capitalising on a defence lapse. He raised a slender hope for Karnataka then but Pemmiah's exit and the consequent struggle for ball possession ended it all.

Friday's match: Tamil Nadu vs. Kerala.

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