The Hindu : Football: Punjab, TN set up final clash

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2002

Sport

Sport - National Games

Football: Punjab, TN set up final clash

By A. Joseph Antony

Hyderabad Dec. 16. Reigning champion Punjab and Tamil Nadu advanced to the semifinals of the football competition from Group A at the Lal Bahadur stadium here. On Monday, the holder recorded a lone goal win over Andhra Pradesh, while the other semifinalist held Kerala to a 1-1 draw. Tamil Nadu topped the table with seven points from two wins and a draw as against Punjab's six from two wins and a loss.

Vigorous exchanges marked the first match as the ball travelled to and fro. The first half went off goalless strangely. Eight minutes into the second half, Tamil Nadu's Muthu unleashed a flag kick that was stunning in precision in that substitute Manimaran had only to prod the ball home. The goal-scorer had come in place of TN skipper Jestes Antony.

Kerala's equalizer came through skipper and prolific scorer, Asif Saheer in the 70th minute. Sameer's cross from the left was headed into the box by Ignatius. Saheer then chipped the ball over the onrushing custodian.

Punjab's Gurvinder Pal let loose a pile-driver from inside the box, 24 minutes into the second match that shut out Kerala and secured a place for itself in the last four line-up. The defending champ played with vigour, especially resilient in defence, thwarting not less than three threatening goal-bound moves.

At the Shivkumarlal Stadium, Goshamahal, Manipur women swamped Assam 11-0, after leading by half a dozen goals mid-way through.

Featuring in the win were a treble by Geetarani Devi, a brace each by Lokeshori Devi and Tababi Devi. Lokeshori set off the goal spree in the 14th, followed up by a double from Tababi in the 23rd and 24th. Lokeshori found the net again in the 36th. A minute later, Sachi Rani struck while

Geetarani made it half a dozen, a minute short of the breather.

Three minutes into the latter half, Geetarani again found the mark. N.G. Bala Devi caged the ball 10 minutes later. Two minutes after, Geetarani's third in her trio came. Melody Hoakip and Thoi Devi completed the rout in the 74th and 78 minutes.

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