The Hindu : Kerala's fairytale run continues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Kerala's fairytale run continues

By S.R. Suryanarayan

Photo: K. Gajendran

Amrutha Aravind of Kerala takes a shot at the goal, while Goan defender Shaini Rodrigues (8) looks on in the senior women's National football championship in Chennai on Thursday.

Kerala 2 Goa 1

Punjab 4 Karnataka 0

CHENNAI JUNE 19. Kerala's fairytale run continued in the senior National women's football championship as it reached the semifinals from Group II on Thursday, showing the kind of assurance that was conspicuously missing earlier.

Still there is no denying the touch of irony in the State's progress. Saved by Punjab's `extra' goal against Haryana in the preliminary phase, Kerala has never looked back, going from strength to strength with luck and pluck, whereas its benefactor is already out of championship.

Punjab's match against Karnataka was only of academic interest since Manipur, having beaten both of them, had already qualified from Group I. How fortunes fluctuate!

For Kerala it was a sort of situation where complacency could have caused it to falter. The team needed just a draw to edge Goa out on points, while the latter required a win. But showing the wiser strategy of playing its normal game and with less tension, Kerala methodically unsettled the Goan plans.

The stress was on attack and, with a comparatively better set of forwards where Subitha Poovatta, Angel Adolphes and Amrutha Aravind, made an early impression, the action remained glued for a while at the Goan end. At least thrice in the first half hour, Amrutha had the chance to put Kerala up, but hasty and wayward tries proved her undoing.

The contest entered the last minute of the first session when the breakthrough came via a flag kick. Sunitha, who did a competent job in the midfield, directed the ball well to the goalmouth and Angel hiding herself in the crowd rose well to effect a feeble header. Despite a host of legs around, the ball found its way gently into the cage with goalkeeper Concy Vaz reacting late.

Any Goan plans to repair the damage were dashed early in the second session when Subitha Poovata scored with a well controlled left foot volley (49th) off a cross from Seena, who looked restrained but effective in her role of being a step behind the forward line.

It was a case of now or never for Goa. None showed the urgency more than the team captain, Sharon Fernandes, who advanced from the defence and propped up the attack, which certainly had lacked bite. True Julie D'silva did a lot of running, as is her wont, but the same cannot be said of Michelle Soares or Elwina Miranda who looked sluggish in comparison and failed to provide the vital support upfront.

Still, like a stroke of luck came a 25-yard free-kick for Goa in the 62nd minute. Maria Gomes came up to essay a crisp shot. The normally agile Preethakumari, the Kerala goalkeeper, was momentarily shaken by the well directed try and grappled with the ball before spilling it, enough for Sharon to pounce upon and push into the cage.

Pepped up now, Sharon galvanised her colleagues to up their efforts.

Another free-kick brought Maria to the front again. But this time, Preetha was on extra alert and the Kerala-end survived.

Goa's sudden change of gears did not last long though, for Kerala was back on its attacking mode. A Sheeba long shot from far had the potential to cause danger, but neither Angel nor Subita could take advantage.

The sequence did not end there, for when the ball bounced further to the near side, substitute Sheeba was there to raise visions of the manner in which she had scored the match winner against Orissa. But this time, from close range, Sheeba contrived to shoot wide, an effort that shamed her so much that she hid her face in her palms.

Poor Goa's task grew harder by the minute, but what came into focus in the final moments was the unexpected fall Reshma D'Souza suffered in a heading collision with Kerala's Angel. Writhing in pain, she was stretchered off and later taken to a hospital. Nothing serious was reported to her right elbow. Nonetheless it was a painful blow. Just what her team had suffered.

Hat-trick by Sharanjit

Later in an inconsequential match, Punjab helped by a hat-trick by Sharanjit Kaur beat Karnataka quite comfortably. Leading by Sharanjit's headed goal (17th) at half-time, Punjab consolidated its position with two quick goals by Sharanjit in the 44th and 45th minute. The experienced international, Gurmeet Kaur converted a free-kick to complete the tally.

Friday's matches: Assam v UP (2.45 p.m.), Tamil Nadu v Maharashtra (4.30 p.m.).

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