Slam dunk by the Air Jordan

Slam dunk by the Air Jordan
MICKY AIGNER

MARGAO, JANUARY 17: Hong Kong’s bid of a win with a revamped line-up that had seven new faces backfired. A 0-2 loss, exactly opposite of what they needed before the match against Jordan, was the result that meant bidding Goa goodbye.

Jordan with second-half strikes by substitute Badran Al-Shaqran (49th minute) and then Haitham AlShboul (84th) topped Group C of the Sahara Millennium Cup, at the Nehru Stadium (Fatorda), and moved to India’s soccer capital Calcutta for their quarterfinal against Group D runner-up.

Romania, who finished second will play the winner of Group-A here on January 21, while Hong Kong go back to recharge ahead of their target pre-World Cup qualifiers.

The way Hong Kong began keeping possession and playing much organized seemed they had learnt from the previous encounter initially. However, as the match progressed Hong Kong disintegrated and were disillusioned in the second session that won their opponents the game. Hong Kong’s second half was a repeat of their game against Romania they tired and in their withdrawn, self paid the price. Jordan, on the other hand, initially played the long ball, which looked pre planned, as they had nothing to lose and a draw, or even a solitary goal loss was enough for advancing.

With the game gaining in pace towards the end of the first half, after most exchanges were confined to the mid-field, Jordan came up with the best efforts logged till that point. Haitham Al-Shboul, playing the ball back from the left to Hassouneh Qasen has the latter slip and in the bargain miscue his left-footed attempt.

On the other flank, a quick receive and release initiated by Hassouneh to a fast moving skipper Abu Al-Jamal ended in naught despite being just confronted by goalkeeper Chan Ka Ki as Abu exhausted and needed attention. Then, a probing Hatem running from deep inside his half released a cross meant for Rafat Ali Jaber. Rafat, a yard short missed the ball completely despite having Lee Chi Ho at his mercy, which allowed Feng Jihi cover up and clear. A defensive lapse led to the second goal, with the back-pass deceiving Hong Kong. Yeung Kin-Wai in a bid to play the ball back, saw to his horror Haitham read the pass an intercept and in one motion release a left-footed drive to the left of the goal. Close to the end Hong Kong were luck as their goalkeeper came out triumphs paring a Faisal Suleman right-footer out of play, which also marked the end of their campaign.

Yugoslavia top group
Kochi, January 17: Skipper Sasa Ilic led by example, slotting in two goals as Yugoslavia, down by an early goal, outplayed Bangladesh 4-1 to top Group A of the Sahara Cup Football Tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Ilic found the mark in the 18th and 35th minutes after Bangladesh took a surprise lead as early as the sixth minute. Vuk Rasovic (81st) and Goran Trobok (penultimate minute of the regulation time) also entered the scorers’s list for Yugoslavia. Thus Yugoslavia and Bosnia were level on four points, both having a victory and draw apiece, but the former emerged group champions on better goal difference. Yugoslavia scored five and conceded two, while Bosnia have three for and one against. Bangladesh, in a must-win situation after their 2-0 loss to Bosnia, struck against the run of the play early in the game through defender Firoz Mohammed Hussain. Mohammed Alfaz Ahmed won a ball in the midfield, played one-two with Hussain while piercing through the Yugoslav defence before setting up Hussain in the box with a through. On possession, Hussain feinted goalkeeper Zarko Lucic to the right and placed the ball into the net ease.

-- Aswin Abraham