Bangalore, June 18: Indian Telephone Industries lifted their game in the second half to snuff out the challenge of Eastern Railway by two goals to nil in the pre-quarter-final tie of the Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup football tournament at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Wednesday.

ITI sported a new look, with a number of outstation players in KK Jayan, Ravi Babu, Sudhakar, PC Prakash and Najeeb doing duty for them. ITI in the past rarely depended on outsiders but of late, the team has suffered in performance and hence this changed composition to revive its past glory.

Eastern Railway who had victories over famed East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Md Sporting in the Calcutta league last year, were no pushovers. They fought hard but failed, struggling to come to terms with the unevenness of the turf and the opposition.

It was Eastern Railway who had the first look in at the rival goal when Atanu Das twice had the ITI goalkeeper Francis Ignatious in a spot of bother. However, Ignatious anticipated well to avert danger. Atanu spelt danger time and again but had to leave the field late in the second half as referee M Sreedharan did not take too kindly to his offensive behaviour and ordered him off the ground with a red card.

ITI finally opened account in the 29th minute of second half through Kennethraju. Following a deep clearance by ITI goalkeeper Ignatious, the ball went to R C Prakash who headed to an unmarked Kennethraju. The forward had only the goalkeeper to beat and did not disappoint his teammates as he placed the ball over the goalkeeper into the empty net.

ITI could have scored another goal immediately but this time, Kennethraju was found wanting. Substitute Sreekumar's pass split the defense completely but with the goalkeeper at his mercy, Kennethraju shot into the goalkeeper.

A few minutes from the long whistle, ITI rounded off the tally when Kennethraju made amends by tapping the ball in after Ravi Babu back passed to him.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.