Tollygunge denied as Mahindras escape

Tollygunge denied as Mahindras escape
RAYMOND FERNANDES

MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 15: Local champions Mahindras were lucky when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Calcutta's Tollygunge Agragami in the Coca-Cola National Football league at the Cooperage on Tuesday.

The Calcutta side were denied a certain goal in the 70th minute when Abdul Lateef Sereki scored from close off a cross from the right by wing-back Isiaka Awoyemi. But referee Goculdas Nagvenkar (Goa) disallowed the goal after linesman Blair Rodrigues (Goa) had signalled for off-side.

Earlier, Mahindras had taken the lead in the 40th minute through a goal by Manjit Singh. In fact, the local side could have wrapped up the game in the first-half itself but their forwards were off target on not less than five other occasions in this session.

Tollygunge improved in the second-half and restored parity in the 62nd minute through stopper Kajal Bhattacharjee who found the net following a corner. They then struck again after eight minutes but the goal was disallowed. The two teams were also concerned in a 1-1 draw intheir first-leg clash at Calcutta.

Tollygunge coach Amal Dutta vent his spleen over the disallowed goal when addressing the press after the match. He was also dissatisfied with the poor ground conditions and said this was one of the worst pitches in the entire country.

Mahindra manager and make-shift coach Harish Rao said they caved under the second-half pressure and that goalkeeper Virender Singh was at fault when conceding the equaliser.

With this division of points, Mahindras retain their third place on the league ladder with 25 points from 15 games. Tollygunge are placed seventh with 20 points. Churchill Brothers head the league table with 30 points and are followed by Mohun Bagan with 28 points.

Mahindras will meet Border Security Force at Ludhiana on February 19 and next, lock horns with Mohun Bagan at the Cooperage on February 25.

The Calcutta side came by the first chance in the 13th minute. Sasthi Duley crossed in the goalmouth from the left but Jayanta Sen failed to connect the ball fromclose quarters.

Mahindras then dictated terms in a sustained manner but had to wait until the 29th minute to test rival goalkeeper Bivash Ghosh. Manjit Singh sent Jordanian striker Bassam Khatib through but the latter was sandwiched between goalkeeper Ghosh and a defender before he could strike.

Manjit, Khatib and Abbas Ali Rizvi missed good chances before Mahindras struck in the 40th minute. Samshi Raza sent a well-measured cross from the left to striker Manjit who was stationed at the top of the box. Manjit, on seeing the goalkeeper out, headed stiffly to the right of the 'keeper into goal.

The Tollygunge goal could have been saved by Mahindra goalkeeper Singh. But he misjudged the flight following Chandan Das' corner and Tollygunge stopper Kajal Bhattacharjee half-volleyed into goal from near the penalty spot.

Mahindras applied pressure in the last 15 minutes but Manjit missed a sitter in the 80th minute and next, Satish Minz's long range try was parried off with a dive to his right by Tollygungegoalkeeper Ghosh.

Ossius 'tricks

CALCUTTA: Brazilian striker Ossius struck a hattrick as East Bengal blanked State Bank of Travancore 3-0, reports PTI.

The East Bengal offensive machinery swung into action early as Ossius outwitted a couple of SBT defenders and then unelashed a power packed left-footer from just outside the box in the third minute.

The local team consolidated in the 20th minute following a sudden attack against the run of play. SBT custodian Feroze Sharief failed to properly collect Sheikh Sanjib's long-ranger and the ball came out of his hands and an onrushing Ossius tried to slot home, but Sharief managed a clumsy clearance with his foot. Sanjib again had a try but Shiv Kumar made a goalline save. The ball, however, went only as far as Ossius, standing nearby. The striker's shot went in off the foot of Shiv Kumar.

Going into half time with a 2-0 lead, East Bengal scored again in the 49th minute as Dipankar Roy essayed the ball square to Carlton Chapman who released it toOssius to do the rest.

JCT win

LUDHIANA: A brilliant goal by striker Hardip Gill off a cross pass from Rampal in the dying moments (87th) saw Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills, Phagwara beat Border Security Force by a solitary goal, reports PTI.

With the win, the millmen collected three points from the outing taking their tally to 24 from 15 matches while BSF remain at the bottom of the league with six points from same number of matches.