The scoring worries for Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) perpetuated as they played out a goalless draw against Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) in the Super Division football league at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Sunday.
The newly-promoted yet fancied team, with a number of big names in their ranks, went into the match with two successive solitary goal-wins, but their forwards failed to fire, spoiling a handful of open chances.
LRDE were frequently threatened by some well-directed crosses, particularly by hard-working Ticken Singh on the left. However, some ordinary shooting by strikers jeopardised them. BEML, though, enjoyed domination as LRDE clearly lacked ammunition to rock opposition defence except for some speedy forays by Satish upfront.
BEML started with Wilfred replacing out-of-form Danny Maiuno upfront, but once again their attacks were moslty confined to the left flank with defender Gift Raikhan and Ticken in the thick of action.
The string of awful misses for BEML started with Govinda missing a close ranger in the eighth minute. Five minutes later, LRDE got a lucky reprieve when Gopi’s lob went past rival custodian Antony L, but found the crosspiece.
At the stroke of half-time, LRDE almost gifted their opponents a goal when defender Anish Kumar put legs on to a Ticken cross but the ball flew inches over the bar.
BEML brought Karthik in for Shyam and Danny for Wilfred midway through the second-half, but the all-important goal eluded them.
In the 66th minute, Gopi stood in the way of a good scoring chance near the right-hand post for Karthik. Moments later, Danny’s side-footed drive sailed over the bar.
Five minutes from time, Gopi wasted a sitter when his deflection went straight into goalkeeper’s legs. A bicycle-kick attempt by Sanath Kumar at the end rounded off a forgettable day for BEML.
Other result: ‘A’ Division: Tilak Memorial: 4 (Ashish 38th, Kiran 42nd, 62nd, 89th) bt Universal: 0.
Monday’s matches: ‘A’ Division: BUFC vs AGORC, 1.45 pm; Super Division: Southern Blues vs Postal, 3.45 pm.
