IOCL regains title after facile win

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) regained the State super-division league championship title.

Needing a draw to clinch the title, IOCL posted a 3-1 victory over BPCL to remain unbeaten in the 10-team league and amass 25 points.

Tyrone chosen best

The winner pocketed Rs. 1.5 lakh for its efforts and Tyrone Pereira was adjudged Player of the Championship.

BPCL, winner of the last two editions, had to be content with the runner-up trophy and a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, while Army Red finished third and was richer by Rs. 50,000.

Searing runs

BPCL, which needed a win going into the match on a lesser goal difference than its rival, did make some searing runs in search of the lead, especially early into the second-half, after being tied 1-1 at half-time.

Roshan Minz put IOCL into the lead in the 14th minute but international Tushar Khandekar drew parity for BPCL in the next minute.

More incisive

However, in the second session, despite the ball swinging from end to end, it was the M.M. Somaiaya-coached BPCL that looked more incisive.

But much against the run of play, a thrustful run down the left by Bharath Chikara saw goalkeeper Kuttappa foil him.

However, Deepak Kumar, lying in wait, pushed it home in the 62nd minute.

A minute from the final hooter, Minz unleashed a stinger to make the scoreline look emphatic in IOCL’s favour.

Bad conduct

The day’s proceedings, however, were marred by unsportsmanlike conduct by the Namdhari team, initiated by team coach Didar Singh.

Didar was suspended for bad mouthing and showing dissent only three days ago.

On Sunday, the man was allowed to sit on the team bench, but no sooner Fortis scored its first goal, he called his players in contesting the goal.

Charging in

And in the 48th minute when umpire Arun Babu awarded Fortis a penalty corner, Namdhari’s Dhyan Singh charged at the referee which led to a squabble.

Namdhari supporters too rushed onto the field with the ‘sticks’ of the substitutes and were seen wildly swinging at all and sundry.

In the process, Chetan Krishna, a former KSP player now with Rail Wheel Factory suffered a deep gash on the left side of his head and needed six stitches.

Officials assaulted

Officials Bryant, Yogendra and Ganesh, all of whom rushed to pacify the players too were beaten up.

The tournament committee abandoned the match and awarded the game and three points to Fortis.

Other results: Fortis 2 (Ajitesh Rai, K.K. Bharath) bt Namdhari 1 (Karamjit Singh) Match abandoned after 48 minutes; Canara Bank 2 (Sameer Baxla, Laxman Rao) drew with KSP 2 (Mohan Kumar-p.c., Parmesh); PCTC 5 (N.M. Manju, S.P. Kujur, Sairaj Singh, S. Kujur, S. Mundu) bt ASC 1 (Harpreet Singh).

Special awards: Best goalkeeper: Ramachandra (KSP); Best defender: Diwakar Ram (Fortis); Best midfielder: Sameer Baxla (Canara Bank); Best forward: Elizir Lakra (Army Red); Player of the league: Tyrone Pereira (IOCL).

How they finished (read as played, won, draw, lost, goals for, goals against, points): IOCL 9-8-1-0-37-9-25; BPCL 9-7-1-1-31-14-22; Army Red 9-6-1-2-36-18-19; Fortis 9-5-0-4-32-25-15; Canara Bank 9-4-2-3-24-25-14; KSP 9-3-1-5-19-28-10; Namdhari 9-2-3-4-17-19-9; Army Green 9-2-2-5-17-22-8; PCTC 9-1-1-7,18-46-4; ASC 9-0-2-7-8-32-2.