HAL take full points off Mahindra

Hindustan Aeronautics, Bangalore, scored twice in the second half to dash Mahindra United's aspirations of a good finish in the Tata National Football League, which concluded on Monday.

HAL's 2-0 victory at the Cooperage in Mumbai took their points tally to 28 and kept them in eighth position, while Mahindra, with 33 points, finished sixth.

Mahindra have themselves to blame for the defeat as they missed chances galore. They could have been up in the 15th minute when Kahlid Siddique provided an accurate cross to Austin Okolo, but the latter managed only a feeble tap with just the goalkeeper to beat.

The rest of the half was restricted to midfield as both the teams failed to break through the opposition defence.

The second half saw a free-for-all in the tenth minute after Okolo and HAL's Siddiqui traded blows near the HAL box, resulting in the referee showing the red card to both players.

With the teams down to ten men, HAL gained momentum. In the 59th minute, M Suresh brought down Mulisa Jimmy in the penalty box. The resultant penalty was duly converted by Rajendra Prasad.

Having tasted success, HAL started raiding the rival defence. In the 79th minute, Dayanand received a square pass from Rajendra Prasad on top of the box and unleashed a full-bloodied left footer which saw the back of the net, to make it 2-0 for HAL.

Photographs: Jewella Miranda

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