Chennai Customs overcame a tentative start to defeat Josco FC (Kochi) 2-0 in the opening match of the all-India football tournament for the V.P. Sathyan Memorial Trophy at the Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.
M. David opened the scoring in the 21st minute and M. Ramesh made certain the win in the 67th, but for much of the first half the CFA senior division champion was outplayed by Josco.
Customs was kept in the game by its goalkeeper, A. Arun Pradeep, who made numerous vital interventions, none better than his save in the opening minutes when he twisted in mid-air to tip over the bar a superb left-footed strike from Joseph Perera.
Opening strike
K.P. Anish also went close for Josco, volleying wide, before Customs scored, against the run of play. M. Karthikeyan lobbed a ball into the area, which David, having lost his marker, caressed into the goal with the outside of his boot.
Josco nearly equalised. First, K. Nawak directed a diving header towards the far post but Arun Pradeep got across in time. The Customs keeper could do little about the next attempt on goal, a furiously struck free-kick from Anish that was thwarted by the bar.
Customs was better in the second half, wining more midfield battles than in the first. David hit the upright with an opportunistic strike from 30 yards out — the goalkeeper was off his line — and Ramesh, with only the keeper to beat, side-footed wide.
Ramesh made amends soon after, rising highest to head in the second goal.
But Customs suffered a blow after wrapping up the game. Ramesh was sent off after receiving his second yellow card and will miss the next match.
TN XI posts win
In the second match, Tamil Nadu XI beat Akbar Travels FC (Mumbai) 3-0.
Jeribe struck first for Tamil Nadu XI, angling his shot from outside the box to beat the goalkeeper. Three minutes into the second half, V. R. Murugappan chased a beautiful through ball and slotted home past the advancing keeper to make it 2-0.
M. Devaraj scored the third in the 56th minute. He cut in from the left, beat a defender with a drop of his shoulder, and fired a low left-footer that eluded the keeper, who was at full stretch.
