Riding on the last-minute solitary goal scored by skipper Sheikh Rizwan aided J&K Bank, Srinagar to emerge triumphant against local favourites Indian National FC in the final of the fourth edition of the Lt. Governor's Invitational DDA football tournament played at the Ambedkar stadium here on Monday.
The all-important goal came in the 90th minute through Rizwan, who finely placed a left-footed shot into the far left of the post beating past onrushing rival goalkeeper Rajat Guha, after receiving an accurate right flank cross from the player of the tournament Badru Keke Ibrahim.
Walled city favoutites and tournament’s last edition runners-up Indian National FC once again betrayed by the luck as they yet again ended their campaign as losing finalist. Ironically, Indian National also became runners up in the last month concluded Delhi Soccer Association senior division league.
Much to National’s disappointment, the Srinagar outfit lost 2-1 to same opponents in their group stage game earlier. Nationals came from behind to clinch a 2-1 victory over bankmen.
The religious chant of La-Ilaha-Illalah before and between the match turned into the victory mantra for the J&K Bank team after the match as they claimed their second championship of the year on the trot, they earlier won the Principal Harbhajan Singh memorial football Tournament in Punjab.
JK Bank rewarded with a cash prize of Rs. Two lakhs alongwith a glittering Lt. Governors Cup, while the runner up, INC had to content with a sum of Rs. One lakh. The two losing semifinalists also received the cash reward of fifty thousand each.
The Chief Guest, Lt. Governor of Delhi, Tejendra Khanna, presented the prizes to the members of the winners and runners-up teams. Earlier in the semi-final on Friday, JK Bank got the better of title favourites Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Mumbai, in a breathtaking tie-breaker.
The first half tussle was more confined to midfield action with both the teams relied on counters to surge ahead. Bankmen was having more control in the game as compared to their opponents. Both the teams went into the breather without scoring a goal.
On resumption, J&K Bank players dished out more set play game and attacked the rival citadel at regular intervals but kept at bay by the National defenders on many occasions. National players also tried their hard but faltered at the decisive moments.
Then came the deciding moment when skipper Rizwan broke the long-drawn-out deadlock in the last minute of the scheduled time with his superb left-foot placement keeping his cool and saving his best for the last.
The victorious captain Rizwan was quite satisfied and overjoyed over his team’s consecutive title victory. “We were well prepared against our opponents as they had beaten us in the group stage. Moreover they are local favourites and also have home advantage,” said delighted Rizwan after the match.
“We entered into the finals running high in confidence as we had beaten formidable State Bank of Travancore, in league stage, and title contenders ONGC, Mumbai in the semis in our previous two matches,” added Rizwan.
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