HASC stutter into final round; BEML suffer heartbreak

After HASC succumbed 2-3 to State Bank of Travancore in a match that resumed on Thursday after play was suspended due to bad light on Wednesday, BEML needed to beat Malabar United to qualify at the Bangalore champions’ expense. However, their dream soon turned into despair when group-toppers Malabar, whose qualification was confirmed after the Aircraftmen’s loss, raced to a 2-0 lead within 26 minutes.
Just when their fans, who filled the Bangalore Football stadium, were sinking into disbelief, former HASC striker RC Prakash thundered in two quick second-half goals to re-ignite his side’s hopes. Despite repeated forays, the Bangalore outfit could not add to the tally as Malabar guarded their fort tightly for the remaining 13 minutes for a nerve-wrecking 2-2 draw.

Malabar thus finished their engagements on top of the table with 12 points while HASC emerged runners-up three points behind.  BEML and SBT, who finished on level points with HASC, were ranked third and fourth respectively based on goal difference.
Unlike HASC, BEML took the field in the do-or-die encounter with more confidence and looked charged up for the better part of the encounter. Despite conceding two early goals that came against the run of play, BEML hardly buckled down and kept thrusting forward. Mid-fielder Mahendra Mani sizzled with his pace and constant supplies into the danger area while striker RC Prakash, in his early thirties but still agile, posed enormous problems for Malabar defenders.

Soon after Mani’s viciously dipping free kick from 30 yards was kept away brilliantly by Malabar goalkeeper P Pramod, the Kerala outfit silenced the crowd when Jacken Sebastian headed home in the 12th minute before Firos K completed a fine counter-attack by slamming the ball past BEML custodian Rajan in the 26th minute. Heading towards the exit, BEML suddenly exploded when Prakash netted off J Anaba Hamza cross in the 75th minute.

Within three minutes, Prakash left-footed on the full from Mani’s cross, sending signals of a fine comeback. The moment nearly came in the 79th minute but Prakash missed his hat-trick when his shot from close range went wide.


Other result: Group A: At Bangalore: SBT: 3 (Mohammed Harris 19th, Martin John 62nd, Gibson 66th) bt HASC: 2 (Jotin Singh 69th, J Murali 87th).
Group B: At Delhi: Amity United: 5 (Useni 13th, 71st, Chaya Ram 49th, 77th, Biplab 86th) bt Simla Youngs: 2 (Prithvi 18th, Ugochukwu 64th).
At Tinsukia: Group C: NISA: 1 (Daniel Meetei 18th) bt Denzong Boys: 0.