The Hindu : Sport / Football : SAI holds Customs

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SAI holds Customs

Chennai: K. Venkatesan headed in a late goal to salvage a 1-1 draw for SAI against Chennai Customs in the St. Joseph’s-CFA senior division football league, here on Saturday.

Customs defender C. Premnath failed to deal decisively with a long ball, which resultantly bounced over his head and Venkatesan was quick to get head the ball in beforegoalkeeper G. Suresh could reach it.

Customs’ goal came five minutes after kick-off. M. Ramesh burst into the SAI box unchallenged and chipped a cross to his Nigerian strike partner Abey Owolesho, who scuffed his first shot, but scored off the rebound.

SAI almost struck back immediately, J. Suresh shooting wide from handshaking distance of the goalie after he was found in plenty of space by a Venkatesan flick-on.

Customs spent most of the game in SAI’s half, a constant battle raging between Ramesh’s off-the-ball runs and SAI’s high back-line.

Twice he beat the offside trap, but goalkeeper John Rock Kilbert came off his line just in time on each occasion. On two further occasions, the linesman raised his flag, both tight calls.

In the second half, Abey found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a clever 1-2 with Ramesh, but opted to pass to a non-existent teammate instead of shooting. A minute before SAI equalised, Ramesh nearly scored, his powerful shot at the near post parried superbly by Kilbert. — Sports Reporter

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