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Delhi held, Bengal sink Mizoram
A last-gasp equaliser by Tamil Nadu ended Delhi's hopes of garnering full points from their Group B quarter-final group league match of the Santosh Trophy in Kolkata on Monday.
A last-gasp equaliser by Tamil Nadu ended Delhi's hopes of garnering full points from their Group B quarter-final group league match of the Santosh Trophy in Kolkata on Monday.
Later, Shankar Oraon and Gouranga Dutta scored a brace each to help hosts Bengal thrash a hapless 10-man Mizoram 7-1.
After the end of the second round of matches, Bengal and Tamil Nadu have four points each but the hosts now top the group by virtue of a goal difference of plus five.
Delhi have two points and need to win their last match against Mizoram by a big margin to harbour hopes of staying alive.
Mizoram are out of contention after losing both matches.
Delhi were unlucky not to win after leading the match till the 88th minute when substitute M. Rajesh's curled a beautiful left-footer.
Tamil Nadu, though, looked more purposeful in a match that hardly had any spark.
Delhi striker Tuishim Mashangva was subdued in the presence of the towering Tamil Nadu defenders. That forced Delhi to try moving down the middle.
With Delhi hardly being able to stitch any decisive move, Tamil Nadu dominated the first half.
And with strikers R. Rajesh and P. Riju tearing apart the defence once again, Delhi were forced on the defensive and relied on counter-attacks.
The drab first half ended goalless.
Delhi, however, got a great chance to go ahead when, following a defensive lapse by Tamil Nadu, Mohender Singh had only goalkeeper A. Arun Pradeep to beat. Singh though shot straight into Pradeep's hands.
Delhi however, didn't fail to exploit Tamil Nadu's next defensive error.
David Ngaihte --- who was brought in place of Singh in the 71st minute --- latched on to a splitting through ball from the centre circle and slammed it past Pradeep. Tamil Nadu defenders were waiting for assistant referee Adley D'Costa to call it off-side but his flag stayed down.
Nine minutes from time, Delhi fell back to defending but a resolute Tamil Nadu did get their equaliser.
With Delhi congesting their goalmouth, M. Rajesh, who came in place of C.S. Sabeeth in the 70th minute, essayed a measured chip that curled just at the right moment at the far post.
A helpless Roy could only watch the ball sail past him.
