Osian's ND Heroes, ONGC in DDA football semis

Title contenders and local favourites Osian's New Delhi Heroes displayed a great fighting character, as they rallied to overcome the stiff challenge put up by another local outfit Hind Ahbab FC 2-1 in their last Group ‘A’ league encounter of the 4th Lt Governor's DDA Invitational football Tournament played at the Ambedkar stadium here on Wednesday.

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Riding on Baba Tunde’s brace, which also included an injury time match-winning goal, ND Heroes moved into the semi-finals completing their engagements with a total of 10 points. ONGC FC, Mumbai, other team of the same group, trounced Kolkata-outfit Peerless Sports club 4-0 earlier in the day to seal their semis berth.

ND Heroes team was never looked in its element even if it was an inconsequential match for them since they had already qualified for the semis. It was just because of the individual brilliance of striker Baba Tunde in the closing stages of the game that helped them ending up on winning side.

Current DSA champions was appearing like an ordinary team and that too at a time when they are scheduled to play in the second tier of the I- League. Matches that will come their way prior to the start of the championship will certainly build up their confidence

There were no signs of set play at all from the Heroes side and the players were not even looking interested to make forays in the rival citadel. The players were barely able to control the ball. At the same time, the spirited losing side players adopted the attacking strategy right from the word go forcing ND Heroes' custodian Moshin Khan busy under the bars with their back-to-back attacks.

Ahbab surged ahead in the 30th minute through striker Pradeep Kumar, who slotted the ball in to the goal with an easy push after he dogged past Heroes defender. Ahbab went in to the breather with a one-goal lead.

On changing the ends, Heroes players tried their hard to bring back themselves into the match but rival defenders kept them at bay with some tight marking. When it was appearing that the match would end up in Ahbab’s favour, all of a sudden Baba Tunde’s solo effort did the trick for the eventual winners His shot misjudged by rival custodian Atif to gift Heroes the equaliser.

The fate has something different in store as Heroes team pushed further hard, after the equaliser, for a victorious goal and duly rewarded in the end with an injury time winning goal.

Tunde once again brought bad luck for the rivals this time with his precise low header that ended up in the net, off a fine Stanley cross in the 92nd minute to seal the fate of opponents.

Earlier in the day, Chukwukere Ndurin Henry, Jatin Singh Bisht, Dhanesh MC and Gour Naskar struck apiece guiding their team to register a resounding 4-0 victory over Peerless Sports Club, Kolkata. Both the winning teams will now clash with the top two teams from Group B, which will be decided on Thursday.