CHANDIGARH, SEPT 8 :Hot contenders Chandigarh Football Academy will take on the challenge of fleet-footed Mohun Bagan Sail Football Academy of Kolkata in the final of the sixth Administrator’s Challenge Cup All-India Football Tournament for Under-17 being organised by the Chandigarh Sports Department at the Sector 17 Football Stadium here at 3.30 p.m. tomorrow.
Chandigarh Football Academy, a venutre of the Chandigarh Administration, snuffed out the spirited challenge of Indian Football Association of Kolkata by 2-0 and Mohun Bagan ousted plucky St Stephen’s School Football Academy of Chandigarh by three second-half goals (3-0) in the semi-finals contested today.
Full credit goes to the CFA boys for their triumph in the semi-final against a team from Kolkata, known as the Mecca of football. The CFA boys were today playing their 11th match in last seven days. On some days they had to play two matches, one in Subroto Cup in New Delhi and second in the Administrator’s Cup in Chandigarh.
The CFA boys have won all their matches. With five wins with creditable margins, CFA have qualified from their pool in the Subroto Cup and in Chadigarh they had taken their appointed place in the final. During the last week, they have travelled more than 2,000 km up and down from Chandigarh to Delhi. Despite this, the boys have not shown any sign of fatigue. Most of these boys have also gone to Germany for advanced scientific training. German coach Andre Khun was present during the semi-final match today in Chandigarh
CF Academy’s first goal came in the 13th minute. A long shot into the box confused the IFA defenders. With sun falling in the eyes IFA custodian Nabin Dhar had also advanced. As the defenders slowed down the game, CFA’s speedy striker Gagandeep Singh headed the ball in to give his team the lead. CFA’s second goal was scored by Lalnunthlunga’ whose 20-yarder loafted ball caught the entire IFA defence napping.
CFA also frittered away some good chances to score. A powerful curving freekick by ebullient Shenaz was saved by IFA custodian Nabin Dhar. Then Lalnunthlunga’s powerful shot just went wide of the first bar. Lalnunthlunga initiated another goal-bearing move and gave a forward pass to Pankaj Negi who failed judge the flight and tap it. In the second half, Nabin Dhar made an outstanding save. Shenaz, who later got injured, sent a pass to Aman whose thundering shot was saved by Nabin who dived full length to his left to thwart the CFA’s move.
IFA had two golden opportunities to score. Dipankar Sarkar tested the CFA goalkeeper Harpreet Singh. However, Sarkar’s shot missed the mark by a narrow margin. Then a move between Dipankar and Siladitya Seth saw CFA goalkeeper Harpreet diving forward to collect the ball before any damage could be done.
Siladitya of IFA and Pankaj Negi of CFA were cautioned in the 37th and 60th minutes, respectively, for rough play.
Earlier, Mohun Bagan Sail Football Academy dished out excellent football as they defeated St Stephen’s Football Academy of Chandigarh by 3-0 in the first semi-final. All goals came in the second half.
Adopting a professional approach, Mohun Bagan got more possession of the ball and created many openings with their strikers showing remarkable understanding among themselves. The well-balanced Kolkata team could have won by a still bigger margin had their strikers capitalised on all those opportunities which came their way. Twice crosspiece denied them a goal. St Stephen’s custodian Shubham Sahai Gupta also made two acrobatic saves.
Stephen’s also have chances to score but they failed to translate these into goals. Lanba Samnagam’s 30-yard powerful shot just sailed over the bar. Rakesh could have scored but his header went over. Jony Chand’s scorching 35-yarder shot hit the side-net. Though Stephen’s lost they were not disgraced. They displayed a never-say-die spirit throughout the match.
St Stephen’s Academy put up a formidable resistance to deny Mohun Bagan a goal in the first half. Twice their goal had a narrow escape. Mohun Bagan launched their first dangerous move in the 23rd minute which resulted in a corner kick award. Sana’s curling flagr kick hit the bar and Paresh Sardar pounced on the rebound but his shot sailed over the bar.
Mohun Bagan maintained press. Two minutes later, they were awarded a 40-yard free kick. Rakesh unleashed a full-blooded shot which an alert Stephen’s goalkeeper Shubham punched it over to save the situation.
After a goalless first session, Mohun Bagan started asserting themselves more and scored three goals without reply and sailed into the final. In the 50th minute, Paresh Sardar launched a move and gave a cross to Amit Kumar whose shot went over the bar.
Under tremendous St Stephen’s goal fell in the 60th minute. Paresh Sardar sent a measured cross from the right and Pritam Singh converted it with a timely header
Having tasted the goal, Mohun Bagan looked more energetic and dangerous. They got their second goal in the 71st minute. Following a flag kick taken by Parsanjit, Amit Kumar caught the Stephen’s defence on the wrong foot. The third goal was the result of the defensive lapse on the part of Stephen’s Academy in the 87th minute. A defence-splitting cross of Ram Mullick caused panic among the Stephen’s defence. With goalkeeper beaten, opportunist Pritam Singh guided the ball into the goal from four-yard.
Paresh Sardar of Mohun Bagan was cautioned for unsporting behaviour in the 27th minute while Suraj Singh got yellow card as he induldged in rough play.
Tuesday’s fixture (final): Chandigarh Football Academy vs Mohun Bagan Sail Football Academy (3.30 p.m.) at Sector 17 Football Stadium.