Skip to main content

Football Final @ NTPC Barh



The fact that the match went on to extra time and Sudden Death eventually was a testimony to the sheer grit and determination shown by both the teams. In games like these, it is never easy to pick a winner. Some matches especially a finale happens to have critical moments or a heroic performance; there were plenty of them today. Team Maintenance gave its all in the cause. They were never in the driving seat, yet they were never very far behind. 

1st Half:
Jittery nerves in the defense had paved the way for the first goal by the Team Project. A superb cross from Arunava Deb found Sampoorna creating space to the right and he ably finished it past Amit, the goalie. Buoyed by the early goal, Team Project pressed hard into the opponents’ box and unleashed a string of shots on target. Had it not been for the sheer acumen and spontaneity of Amit to either fist the ball or palm it away when the situation demanded , their defense would have been easily devoured by Team Project. Maintenance’s defence looked shoddy in the beginning. But Suman and Sanjeev, the two centrebacks, had different ideas then on. They soon became leaders on the pitch and fought like gladiators. They resisted the attack with utmost vigour. And all of a sudden, Team Maintenance found its zeal and ran extra miles to reach out to the ball . Some wonderful midfield play and extra pace found Rajesh Meena running withe ball on the right flank. Seeing the window of opportunity behind Mahendra on the far post, he struck one and executed it to the tee. The ball was hit hard and to perfection. A wonderful goal . And Team maintenance were back in business.All the Maintenance players went berserk and celebrated wildly in the centre. After the kickoff again, an inspired passage of play led by the veteran D K Singh and his inch-perfect set pieces troubled Maintenance for quite some time. Kunal Kishore too saw an  iota od space behind Amit and tried his luck twice in succession from 30 yards but was denied on  both occasion by Amit. Despite their stubborn resistance , Team Maintenance gave it away. A corner kick delivery from D K Singh created chaos inside the 6 yard box and Kunal Kishore took advantage and put one past the goal line. Lead was restored again. The Maintenance defence had been superb at times and shambolic at others which is why they sucked in two goals. At half time the score was 2-1 in favour of the Team Project.
2nd Half:
Soon after the second half had started , Divya Prakash drove a half volley in the bottom left corner of the goal . Mahendra was equal to the task and collected it with ease. Some beautiful counter attacks from either side had created numerous chances for the strikers  but wayward finishing had botched it. Shaurya, who had been quiet so far by his standards, led the team beautifully and with Arunava played some nice little one-twos. But just like the opposition, they couldn’t finish it. The 2nd half was all about the solitary goal that skipper Gyanesh scored in the frenzy created after Ankit delivered a cross inside the 6 yard box and Gyanesh headed one in the net. Just like in the previous game, Team Maintenance had clawed its way back. There were 12 minutes left on the clock to the final whistle. Both the teams tried hard . Nothing outstanding but also not so ordinary moments followed. The referee blew his whistle.
In comes the extra time of 7.5 mins each. Nothing noteworthy came out of it . But what followed was too many tiring legs and the game was now to be decided on penalties.

Penalty shootout
1.     Arunava steps up and drives one into the top left corner. Unstoppable.                                1-0
2.       Saquib steps up and shoots in the centre. Mahendra goes to his left and could simply stick his leg out and watches the goal go past him.                                                                      1-1
3.       Kunal shoots into the stands. Pressure got the better of him.                                     1-1
4.       Suman unleashes a powerful shot into the bottom left corner.                                  1-2
5.       Shaurya puts one into left corner.                                                                                            2-2
6.       Divya Prakash nonchalantly walks to the penalty spot and blows it away. Hits it high above the cross bar.                                                                                                                                               2-2
7.       DK Singh tries to be cheeky and shoots in the centre. Amit, steady as a ship was up to it and holds it. Chance to go ahead squandered.                                                                        2-2
8.       Ankit puts an unstoppable penalty in the top right corner. Was it a toe-poke? Does it matter? Score                                                                                                                                     2-3
9.       Sampoorna puts it behind the line to keep Team Project’s chances alive.                3-3
10.   Rajesh Meena has the chance to be the hero. His shot away from the goal. Do we see another  turnaround? The game ain't over yet                                                                                            3-3
Into the sudden death.
1.       Ratnesh is their bet. Just succumbs to the pressure. Misses.
2.       In comes the skipper Gyanesh and he shoots into the right corner. Goalkeeper unmoved.
Maintenance has won. They erupt in joy. Their supporters go wild and celebrate heavily. Team Maintenance had come back from 1-0 down to net an equalizer and again 2-1 down to 2-2.. They never gave it away and were crowned champions. Amidst all the celebrations, Saquib has a  polite inquiry before the assistant referee “Did we win?” And only after the confirmation, did he celebrate. It had taken players of different styles and mindsets to make a team. In all fairness , Team project played out of their skin and so did the Team Maintenance. Only penalties separated them from the trophy.

What a performance. What a finale.
---------------------------------------------------------Celebrations.-----------------------------------------------------------
Location: Barh, Bihar, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

तलाश

एक सुकून तेरे आँचल में ढूंढने निकला था वो चाहत थी तेरी, जो तेरी ओर  निकला था कुछ दूर आये तो देखा तू कहीं और तेरा दामन कही और तेरी खोज में निकला, तो पाया तेरी राह कोई और तेरी आरजू कोई और तू तो नहीं  थी लेकिन तेरी चाहत वही  थी मैं तो  वही था लेकिंन वो मुद्दत नहीं था थक के वही लौट गए जहां से एक ठहराव तेरे दामन में ढूंढने निकला था नज़र आओ तो आँखों में बसा लूँ करीब आओ तो कह दूँ जो कहना था माफ़ करना अब न हो सकेगा , क्यूँ कि ढूंढ़ने मैं वही  अल्फ़ाज़ निकला था
Post a Comment
Read more

Jabra Fan Ho gaya

Yesterday, Virat was brilliant against the Aussies. But so was he against Pakistan a couple days earlier. Against the wily and the crafty pace of Amir and Co. , he had stood like a rock and weathered everything that came his way. At the beginning of this year Down Under, probably everyone had run out of adjectives and superlatives in the effusive praise of this superstar of Indian cricket. Like the little master himself, he relishes the challenge brought on board by the Aussies. From rightly carrying the mantle of India's best batsman and on being the way to the World's best; he has mastered the dying art of orthodox batting and yet delivered with a consistency that would befuddle the purists and the novices alike. But then again, countless paeans and praises have been published as a tribute to the art of batting he portrays on the canvas of the cricket field.  Why this, then ? Another of probably 10876 columns written over him?  This actually is a loud cry t...
Post a Comment
Read more

GOING FOR THE MIRAGE, WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?

Material world is a mirage. I am quite aware of that and for that matter, most of us are. It sure is fascinating and alluring. Yet, it is something, we have been found wanting to run after. Desires drive you but it also leaves you frail if they remain unfulfilled. Desires and wishes are the biggest evils. They deprave you . T o those whom success (in this case, material acquisition) is the only thing, wickedness is not too far. A n unflagging approach is generally mantra to success. A typical man would cave into the demands   There have been places and times when I wanted to move out of the situation and venue but something held me back, don't know what. And all that follows is the desire to get more of the unwanted, unattained. I always thought it was the intangibles that gives you mirth and merriment. But tangibles are also an species to have by your side and believe you me, it would make us happier if not contented .Agreed those items are expendables and something which...
Post a Comment
Read more