Press Trust of India 
The Indian Express 

January 24, 1999 

MUMBAI: FC Kochi produced the fizz befiiting their patrons and National Football League sponsors Coco Cola in a 2-0 humbling of Mumbai's Mahindras at the Cooperage today.

Although it came late with goals by strikers substitute Naushad (72nd minute) and Nitin Pradhan (81st) the result accurately defined where superiority lay. Mahindras coach SS Hakim, for one, had no doubt. 

"We played badly and deserved to lose", Hakim, coping with a side depleted by injury, lamented while praising his sprightly rivals. 

CV Paul, FC Kochi manager, speaking in the absence of coach Sreedarhan, who escorted injured skipper K Dhanesh to hospital, lauded a triumph of a total Indian side that his club fielded today. 

Paul also praised his side for achieving a win away from home as Kochi count from seven from four matches in Group B. Mahindras despondency can be understood. Coach Hakim, reflecting on just three from four matches, said the Mumbai side's first objective now is to avoid relegation. 

The intial goal came with a free- kick by Mir-Farouq Hyder floated to an unmarked Naushad who punished Jaggi's unwaranted charge with a header that found the net. 

Barreto then leaving Moosa for dead, with another blistering run, crossed to Pradhan, unmarked and ready in the area. A fine volley high into the net and Mahindras' head dropped again. 

FC Kochi's captain and wing back Dhanesh who sprained a ligament will be out of action for a week.