Fighting Andhra holds Karnataka

By Our Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE, MAY 12: Having assured of the title and passage to the inter-zonal phase, Karnataka's plans of signing off on a winning note were dashed by a fighting Andhra Pradesh, which forced a 1-1 draw on Saturday in the south zone under-21 football championship at the Nehru stadium here.

Improving with each match, Andhra's best, alas, came too late. Still the team could return with satisfaction that like Karnataka it could finish its engagements on an unbeaten note. In fact, had referee Aravindakshan not overlooked what looked a clear penalty situation, late in the match after Karnataka goal- keeper Saravanan had used his leg to harm the rival striker Fareeduddin when faced with a close moment, maybe Andhra Pradesh could have trooped out a winner. But then even Andhra end had lucky escapes. Still what stood out was Andhra Pradesh's gutsy display, a nothing-to-lose effort that for a change masked all the other shortcomings already prevalent here.

While it must be conceded that Andhra began on a subdued note, more like a disinterested predator that had its stomach's fill in total contrast was Andhra. For once, Karnataka defence came under severe test and the early signs of friction seemed in keeping with the pressure. Still the defining moment almost came a minute past half hour when Andhra substitute Majid Khan's cross saw the defence deceived by Fareeduddin's (who played his hearts out) dummy enabling Mahalaxmi Rao free space to bang a header.

As luck would have it, the goalmouth act saw the ball bounce on the turf to beat goalkeeper Saravana but rose to knock the bar and deflect away. The going was so good for Andhra that when Karnataka struck, a minute before half time, Mahinder Mani's opportunism after escaping an off side trap, came as an anticlimax. That incidentally was Mani's fourth goal in the championship.

An unseemly episode quite early in the second session saw Karnataka's Sameer paying the price for retaliation (elbowing his provoker Mohammed Azam) with a red card punishment where Azam escaped with a yellow. Down to ten men, Karnataka found its hands full. Fareeduddin with able support from Mohammed Bin Hassan tormented the rival defence. The goal came in this setting when a weak clearance brought Rajesh charging in with none to challenge and the young man made no mistake. At the other end, goalkeeper Shaik Aslam was twice lucky with shots that mysteriously missed the cage. Rajendra Prasad was the unlucky striker.

Yet for the modest gathering the sight of Karnataka's increasing discomfiture seemed novel with each run by Fareeduddin getting a chorus of approval. In this midst came Saravana's faux pas and Referee Aravindakshan's benevolence in just cautioning him.

Sunday (final day): Kerala v Tamil Nadu

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