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Sarabjit Scorcher takes Punjab into the finals |
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Punjab Newsline Network
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Sunday, 05 October 2008 |
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MAHILPUR: Hosts Punjab had to pull every conceivable trick out of their kitty to keep their date with destiny by wearing down mercurial Goa by a solitary second half goal to march into the final of the 31st Mir Iqbal Hussain National Sub Junior Football Championship at the S G G S Khalsa College grounds here Saturday.
The teams were locked 0-0- at the lemon break. In the other semi-final, Mizoram finally ended the rampaging campaign of Assam to win by the odd goal in three after the two teams had gone to the breather with honours even at 1-1. The Mizos, like Punjab also had to draw on all tier famed reserves to beat their hard-tackling opponents and set up a title clash with Punjab for the prestigious S. Balwant Singh Bains Trophy.
Punjab quite clearly appeared already to have played their final in their even before stepping on to the field, so well measured and calculated was their approach to all that Mizoram could throw at them. The back-room boys of the hosts team had chalked out a game plan which took account of the instinctive aggressive intent of their famed rivals. Strikers Gurpreet Senior and Gurpreet who had played a stellar role in ensuring Punjab's march into the last four once again rose to the occasion and were the key drivers behind almost all the moves that their team made towards. Punjab's famed forward line moved like a well-oiled machine, repeatedly shooting chinks through the rival defence. But not only did the visitors defend firmly and with steely nerve but they appeared determine to script their own fairy tale by upsetting Punjab on their home soil in front of a knowledgeable but partisan crowd. Punjab survived several frights in the first half. But they did not allow this to hamper their own intentions .Their forwards threatened the rival goalmouth with beautifully planned forays, both in the flanks and down the tunnel to keep the Goans harassed. Punjab's efforts were finally rewarded when the Gurpreer duo and Sarbjit set up a delightfully smooth move from the right interior, deep inside their own territory and moved up in tandem, virtually toying with the rival defense. The move climaxed in Gurpreet junior setting the ball up to a beautifully positioned Sarabjit who took and blinding first timer to virtually tear the net apart.
Although the Goans made several efforts after that to threaten the hosts, but it was clear that the Punjab lads had glory and history written on each one of their moves and finished at the finishing line with their nose well ahead.
The Mizos and the Assames were engaged in a fast paced encounter of superb skill work and sturdy stamina. The match, perhaps the show-piece of the tournament so far, was played at a blistering speed with neither team willing to fall back on defense. The two teams pulled out all stops in a pulsating duel in which the pendulum swung so rapidly that the result of the match could have gone either way till the final whistle. It kept Mahilpur's soccer-crazy glued to their seats all through. Lalmavia and Mino scored for Mizoram. The final will be played at 2.30 PM on Monday.Punjab Minister for Sports Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike willl be the Chief guest.
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