Chandigarh: Regional Academy of AIFF lifted the 11th Administrator’s Challenge Cup All-India football tournament organised by Sports Department Of Chandigarh Administration from September 22 to September 30.
Both the teams were equally good and exhibited as per the expectations of the football lovers of Tricity. AIFF proved to be better in a high tension match and had their strikers not missed couple of golden chances came their way, the margin of the victory would have been more. In the 4th minute of play speedy striker of AIFF, Moinuddin Khan sent a superb cross from the right flank where Miland Basumatary took a shoot which went out after striking the cross bar.
In the 7th minute of play, Bidyananda Singh took a powerfull shot which was brilliantly averted by CFA Custodian Arshdeep by a superb dive.
Pressurised by the early lathel attacks of AIFF CFA lads settled themselves after fifteen minute of play and framed a couple of good moves.
In the 16th minute of play, Jatinder of CFA took a power packed shot at AIFF goal but Sayantan Pyne custodial of AIFF punched the ball over the cross bar. At many occasions of the game, Bidyananda took the CFA lads by surprise by his long high throws.
In the 45th minute of play, AIFF framed an attack from the right flank when Moinuddin Khan sent a high cross from the right flank where Suman Sarkar headed the ball which was saved by CFA golie on the reverse ball. Hayden Fernandes scored the first goal from top of the box with a powerfull grounder. The winners were leading by 1-0 at breather.
On the resumption of play after the lemon break, both the teams adopted cautious approach and were alert at the time of attacks on their teams.
In the 76th minute of play, CFA came up with a move from the left flank where Jatinder sent the ball in the penalty box of AIFF but no one from CFA was there to convert it. In 78th minute of play, AIFF Coach Sahid Dar took a substitute and sent Delbert Fernandes in place of Moinuddin Khan. The decision bore fruit when he scored the second goal for AIFF in the 88th minute of play by his solo efforts. He dribbled past the CFA defenders before scoring the goal.
V.K.Singh, IAS Secretary, Finance and Sports, gave away the prizes to the winners. Winners of the tournament, AIFF Regional, got cash award of worth Rs. 2 lakh along with glittering trophy. The runners up, Chandigarh Football Academy got cash prize of Rs. 1 lak, where as third place holders, Mohun Bagan got a cash prize of Rs. 50,000. The other prominent presents were Sunil Bhatia, PCS Director Sports, Dr. JPS Sidhu Joint Director Sports and Sh. K. S Bharti Distt. Sports Officer.