KP Jadhav Trophy: Pune FC scrape through

While first timers in the National ONGC I-League the Pune FC might have impressed quite a few football supporters with their ability to make rapid inroads into the defenses of the opponents...

While first timers in the National ONGC I-League the Pune FC might have impressed quite a few football supporters with their ability to make rapid inroads into the defenses of the opponents,the Under-19 squad also lived up to the high standards set by their senior counterparts when they lifted the KP Jadhav Football trophy on Wednesday after defeating rivals City Club 1-0.

In a match that saw the Pune FC team edge out their city rivals,the fans were treated to some fast paced action on the St Vincents ground. While most of the battle remained confined to the midfield there were occasion moments of brilliance from the PFC forwards wherein they simply managed to run amok through the City Club defenses and it was only through the sheer tenacity of the City goalkeeper Ravi Nirpal,that they managed to keep the ball outside the City Club net.

The second half began on a more promising note for City Club with them they began to regularly trouble the PFC defence line up. However the deadlock failed to be broken owing to some good defending from both the sides. In the 50 th minute,however,a strike from City forward Mathew Susainathan sailed inches wide of the PFC goalmouth that left the keeper rooted to the spot as he watched the ball sail past the crossbar. In the 60 th minute a corner kick that was awarded to PFC saw the ball land right in the penalty box area,which was crowded with a melee of players from both teams. In the confusion that ensured mid fielder Prince Oswal,in a moment of sheer madness deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper Ravi Nirpal as the PFC players celebrated the own goal that gave them a frail lead of 1-0.And after that even though City Club ran forward intensifying attacks on the PFC goal they couldnt find the elusive equaliser that would send the match into extra time thereby giving them a chance at redemption.

In the womens final that was played on Wednesday the girls from KFANDRA bludgeoned Azam Campus 4-2 while in the second division final Deccan B thrashed Black Hawks 5-1 with Akhil Jeevan scoring a hat trick to seal the fate of the Black Hawks.

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