Sacred Heart are all but out of Goal 2013 intercollegiate football after crashing to an embarassing 4-0 defeat against Payyannur College on their home ground in Thevara, here on Monday.
The team from Kannur completely dominated the game thanks to an excellent performance by their attack but SH were let down by their midfield whose inability to retain the ball and lack of desire to win it back prevented them from taking advantage of their opponents’ occasional defensive jitters.
The game was completely one-sided as Payyanur often had their opponents chasing shadows. The Kannur team had a number of chances to go in front with SH looking unable to cope with their smooth passing game and some brilliant dribbling from Payannur midfielder Harsheed, who was easily the star of the show.
The first goal came in the 29th minute when Harsheed fired home from inside a box after SH goalkeeper Mohammed Najad parried a shot straight into his path. Three minute later, a defensive error led to the second goal. SH defender Sandeep failed to deal with a harmless clearance from the opposing defence.
Kiran Kumar ran in behind him, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home into the empty net.
The second half started off where the first had ended as Payyanur went further ahead, minutes after the restart, Kiran Kumar again finding the back of the net. Things went from bad to worse for the home team with defender Nithin Raj earning himself a red card in the 43rd minute, for a reckless tackle from behind. And soon SH were four down in the fifitieth minute after Harsheed rounded off an excellent display with his second goal.
The result means that SH go into the final day at the bottom of the table in Group D, and barring an unlikely combination of results, have little chance of making the quarters. Earlier Farook College defeated St Xaviers’ College by two goals to nil in the first match of the day. Danish M scored the first goal of the game in the 7th minute while Mohammed Rafi NB put the eventual victors further ahead in the 47th minute.