Bottom-placed State Bank of Travancore, Thiruvananthapuram, came up with a stunning performance to trounce star-studded Fransa Pax, Goa, 2-0 in their last National Football League encounter for the ONGC Cup on Saturday.
The bankmen seized the initiative in the 26th minute when striker Asif Saheer netted from a Pradeep pass following a corner off Naushad.
After SBT's in-form goalkeeper Jean Christian came up with a perfect save to block a sharp 25-yard kick by Goan captain Jules Alberto just at half-time, the hosts brought in the second goal in the 49th minute when Abdul Hakkim neatly connected a square pass from Mohammed Rafi.
Holding sway during most part of the game, SBT had more scoring opportunities but failed to clear the rival custodian, Kalyan Chaubey.
However, it was once again Christian, who hogged the limelight by blocking two perfect scoring chances and was later named the man-of-the-match.
Fransa, who tried hard to equalise in the first half and later launched an all-out attack in the second after SBT moved up 2-0, could not break the bankmen's defence at any stage.
Though SBT increased their final points tally to 18 from 22 outings, they could finish only 11th, while Fransa stayed at the fifth spot with 30 points from as many matches in the 12-team league.
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