Saturday, Apr 19, 2003
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Football
By Our Special Correspondent
In the last match of the South Zone phase on Friday at the St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School ground, Kerala went down to a determined rival. Kerala was troubled by health problems to its players. Sudeesh and Shaji did not last a session, while Joby's efficiency level dropped. Kerala succumbed to a team which was the most impressive in this championship and deservedly finished on top. Kerala's defeat enabled Karnataka jump to second spot on points, though that is of academic interest only since just one team can qualify from the zone. The onus was on the twins, Anees and Aseem, to deliver for Kerala. In the 15th minute Anees showed why he could be dangerous when he beat Vimal Raj in a sudden run down the right only to find the ball take the upright and bounce away. However Tamil Nadu's reply was fitting with a goal in the 19th minute. For a change Ashok Kumar, Tamil Nadu's key striker, took the provider's role as he crossed the ball for Rajanikanth to relay it to well-placed Joseph Raj to score. Stung Kerala prodded on but Tamil Nadu's defence did not make things easy for Anees or his team-mates. Kerala played better in the second session, though exchanges continued to be on an even keel. Crowd kept on egging Tamil Nadu as Ashok Kumar, Sundaravannakannan and Rajanikanth relentlessly challenged the Kerala defence. Finally a wrong tackle on Ashok Kumar by Dominic Antony paved the way for Tamil Nadu's second goal, through a penalty. Ashok converted it (70th mt). Despite being a hard task, Kerala's morale did not dip. The team even triggered a touch of confusion in the Tamil Nadu defence in the final stages. In the midst came Anees' goal, a simple conversion off a long ball from Joby (81st). One more close encounter involving Anees and Aseem followed in injury time, but Vimal was alert. Mr. T.R. Govindarajan, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Football Association, presided over the final day's proceedings. Final placings (read under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Tamil Nadu; 4-3-1-0-12-1-10; Karnataka: 4-2-2-0-3-1-8; Kerala 4-2-1-1-10-4-7; Pondicherry 4-1-0-3-4-10-3; Andhra Pradesh: 4-0-0-4-1-14-0.
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