New Delhi: Government Boys High School, Meghalaya goalkeeper Legapo Falm took his team to the U-14 semifinals of the 53rd Subroto Cup Football tournament when he left to save a spot kick from Mahmood Bator of Afghanistan in the sudden death on Tuesday.
Till that point, both teams were locked in a fierce battle with the regulation time ended 2-2 and no one missing the five spot kicks during the penalty shootout.
Kostar Lyngdoh then converted the first spot kick in sudden death and coming in as a substitute for the penalty and the sudden death, Legapo Falm did the needful to send the Meghalayan team in wild celebration.
After the win the Meghalaya Captain, Wanmi Nomgrum said, “we played against an international team for the first time and it was a great experience.”
Entering the last four Meghalaya boys celebrated their win and speaking further on the thrilling victory skipper Nomgrum said, “ it was very important that we hold our nerve and I am happy that we could do that. Both the teams played competitive football and I am happy that we could finish on the wining note.”
Earlier, both teams displayed an attacking brand of football in regulation time with the Afghanistan team making the first inroad in 11th minute through Mahid.
However, the Meghalaya boys were not the ones to give up easily and struck back three minutes later with Theibormi Talang finding the net with ease and then took the lead in the 31st minute thanks to Wung Ngyam.
That second goal only spurred Afghanistan to lift their game further and Abdul Nazir took the match into extra time with a 35th minute strike.
The Afghnistan Captain Mohammad Yusuf at the end of the match said, “ it was a well fought contest and the game could have gone either ways. We had a great experience and look forward to come for the next edition.”
In the under-17 girl’s event, Government Mizo High School hammered Air Force Bal Bharti School 15-0 to become the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals from Group I.
Offee Lalmingahualpuia, who had scored the tournament’s maiden hat-trick, repeated her heroics and this time scored one of the fastest goal in the tournament in the very first minute and added three more.
In the day’s other match, Our Lady of Rosary High School, Goa improved their chances of qualifying for the last eight stage as the second best team when they thrashed Baroda High School, Gujarat 11-0.
They will now need to get the better of Air Force school to qualify for the final.
Results:
Boys (U-14): Government Boys High School, Meghalaya 2 (Theibormi Talang 14, Wung Ngyam 31) bt Afghanistan 2 (Mahid 11, Abdul Nazir 35) 8-7 on Sudden death
Girls (Group I): Our Lady of Rosary High School, Goa 11 (Keenda D' Souza 3, 6 ,11, 21, 49; Anika Coelho 9; Ridhi Shirodkhar 19, ChetenaTirodkar 34, 40; Karishma 46th and 50th) bt Baroda High School ,Alkapuri,Baroda,Gujarat 0
Govt. Mizo High School, Aizwal, Mizoram 15 (Offee 1, 8,11, 30; Lalchlupuii 14, 15,21,43; Edenthari 16, 47; Lalauhawmi 23, 38,40; Lalauhthlan 27; GH Lalrampari 45) bt Air Force Bal Bharati School, New Delhi
By indian Sports News Network