DAV and Al Ameen enter the Champion Colleges Final in contrasting styles
The semifinal of the Champions Colleges Cup witnessed two contrasting encounters. While it was a cakewalk for the Jalandhar outfit, DAV College, against Municipal College, Rourkela, the team from Bangalore, Al Ameen College, had to sweat extra to grab the final honour against fighting CRA College, Sonepat.
Fighting Al Ameen scrapped through tie-breaker in a tight match, after both teams tied 3-3 at the end of regulation 70 minutes of play.
On the other hand the first semifinal was a sedate and run of the mill affair, the DAV thumping its presence strongly with regular goals. DAV defeated Municipal Collge 5-1 after leading 3-1 in the lemon time.
Al Ameen’s goalie Keerthi M. Gowda brought out his best in the tie-breaker. He stopped the push of Amit and Surender to give his team the final slot.
Earlier, both the teams fought very hard for straight away entry into the final, which was ultimately stretched to the tie-break.
CRA took the lead through Nikjil in the 12th minute, but the visitors came out with two gem of a penalty corner goals to go up. DS Dharshan struck the brace in the 15th and 23rd minute.
Now it was the turn of CRA to reply in equal measure, a brace of goals. Nikhil against scored through field effort while his mate Dharmendra Antil made use of a penalty corner to go up 3-2.
A faulty stick check resulted in Ameen getting a penalty corner in the 59th minute, and in a indirect attempt Muthanna Mohan brought parity (3-3).
Next ten minutes of intense play did not move the scoreboard, leaving Keerti M. Gowda to come up with his heroic act.
DAV College came out with regular goals and did not allow Rourkela to settle in the first semifinal.
The goal spree was set off by Mohit Singh Thakur who struck in 16th and 19th minutes. International player Satbir Singh added another one before rest time. On resumption, late in the second half Mandeep Singh again added the goal’s aggregate, converting only penalty stroke the side earned.
Rourkela, which missed many sitters, replied once, and it was in the 59th minute. The lone scorer was Joseph Toppo.
Not to be complacent, many times champions DAV struck once again four minutes form the hooter through Manjinder.
The final will be played on Tuesday, the bronze match tomorrow