Delhi United go a step better,win DSA title

The momentum was clearly with Delhi United in the second half. They pressed on relentlessly and,to a handful of people watching,it was only a matter of time before they got the third. It came in the 67 th minute through former Mohun Bagan player and India international Rishi Kapoor. Rishi’s strike,unlike the first two goals,was unadulterated power. A foul just inside the Shahdara half some forty yards away from the goal gave him the opportunity. The offence actually took place closer to the goal than the referee placed it but Rishi wasn’t complaining. Rakeev was still nervously fidgeting with the defenders placements,when Rishi launched a thunderbolt into the right corner of the goal. “We had such confidence at that point that I was confident of scoring despite the distance,” said Rishi.

Time-wasting tactics

Confidence though quickly lead to overconfidence. In the 71 st minute,Ifeani,the Shahdara striker,capitalised to score off the break. Suddenly United were on the backfoot. As Shahadar looked for the equaliser,United spent the remaining 20 minutes of regular time doing everything to delay proceedings. Goalkeeper Rajkumar hit a goalkick and then collapsed in seeming agony. Medics rushed on the field as time ticked by. “Yeh sab karna padta hai,” he said sheepishly after the match. Play was almost entirely in United’s half and it seemed Shahdara’s goal was inevitable. United’s founder,Lal Bahadur Basnet tapped impatiently at his watch in the five minutes of extra time. A free kick on the edge of the penalty box in the first minute gave Shahdara hope but the shot went straight to the keeper who made the most important save of the match. Four minutes later,Delhi United were champions.