G.V. Raja Memorial All India football tournament: Malabar United enters quarterfinals
Malabar United overcame Kerala University by a solitary goal and advanced into the quarterfinal league of the G.V. Raja memorial all-India football tournament at the University stadium on Saturday.
Nigerian import Enyinnaya Loveday’s scorching 20-yard free-kick fetched the winner for the Kochi side in the 34th minute.
Enyinnaya almost turned villain when he brought down Visakh Sukamaran inside the box and conceded a penalty in the 75th minute.
Crucial miss
But University’s star striker Midhun Wilwet’s shot was saved by Malabar goalkeeper Pramod who anticipated well and dived to his right to parry the ball away.
The University lads played with no inhibitions against its rival which had five State players in its ranks. But with better finishing University could have run its rival close.
The Malabar defence was impregnable and both Nigerians Emmanuel Aja Awa and Enyinnaya were more than a handful for the University strikers.
Most of the University moves fizzled out near the rival box. Kerala University relied heavily on Midhun Wilwet’s striking power. But the striker was tightly marked and he had a forgettable match.
Malabar United went ahead from the first genuine chance it got in the match. Jacken Sebastian was fouled by Melbin a little outside the penalty box.
The resultant free-kick was banged in by Enyinnya with such tremendous power that the University goalkeeper could hardly react.
Lacking gameplan
University came out with its guns blazing in the second half. It had more of the ball possession but lacked a clear gameplan. Most of moves came up from the right flank and often ended with an aimless shot or a mispass.
Malabar United on the other hand was content in defending its lead and rarely ventured out to test its rival.
Malabar United joined Army XI and Jammu and Kashmir Bank in the quarterfinal league.
Original Article on The Hindu
