Mahindras run over ITI

February 5: Indian Telephone Industries (Bangalore) were hit for a six today at the Cooperage. Mahindras, on a comeback trail after a spa...

February 5: Indian Telephone Industries (Bangalore) were hit for a six today at the Cooperage. Mahindras, on a comeback trail after a spate of defeats, should thank their striker Manjit Singh (four goals) and the ITI defenders for the margin of victory.

The defeat left ITI coach, Krishnaji Rao, so shattered that he did not even attend the mandatory post match conference. Mahindras coach SS Hakim kept his joy under control, saying they still have the Indian Bank hurdle to get past before they can put relegation out of their minds.

Manjit scored the first, fourth, fifth and sixth goals. Sanjay Raval capped a good game by setting up the second for Rajesh Pandey and scoring the third himself.

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ITI started with their three Kyrgyzstan players — Kiril Kekar, Kalubeim and Alexy Dobroto. But after half hour, it was clear that they lacked in pace, with the early start to the game (3.00 pm as it was televised live on Doordarshan) effecting their stamina.

But it was the defence that was ITI’s problem. With SunilKumar, their central defender, sitting out after being sent off in their match against Indian Bank, they had a big hole in their back yard. To top it was their woeful marking, hordes of mispasses and some poor goalkeeping.

Manjit scored the first goal after receiving the ball from Andrew Louis. Manjit trapped the ball with his right foot, turned around and from the right, shot in. Goalkeeper Balaji expected the defence to take care of Manjit but the defenders only watched the fun.

The next goal was similar to the first in design. Only this time, Pandey, with a quick turn, deflected Rawal’s free-kick. Rawal made it 3-0 with a 25-yard shot which lacked pace but not direction.

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Francis Ignatius came in for Balaji. But he was only worse. An innocuous shot by Shamshi Raza from the left would have been easy collection for Ignatius, but he let the ball slip and Manjit was at hand to tap it in.

Mahindras did not rest on their healthy half-time lead and made it 5-0 in the 53rd minute when Harish Sharma passedto Manjit from the left flank and the stationary ITI defence let him go up and score his third goal. Manjit made it 6-0 three minutes from time.

“Before the match, we told our boys the consequence of relegation. They responded magnificently. We did not expect to win so easily,” said Harish Rao, Mahindras manager. They have seven points and are fourth in the league. ITI remain on five points and look for a corner to hide their faces.