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Minerva Academy FC made an hour’s journey from Daun to Ropar and thrashed Sher-e-Punjab 6-0 in their final qualifying game of the Punjab Super League.
Having already qualified to the Second Division with six points from their first two games, Minerva Academy FC head coach Yan Law decided to make a wholescale of nine changes to the side that beat Doaba United FC – Anwar Ali and Shaiza being the only two players retained.
Minerva Academy FC started the game with an attitude that made it seem like it was more than just a formality – they were dominating proceedings, Sher-e-Punjab were finding it difficult to match the tempo of the game. Yan Law’s team were soon rewarded for the early pressure as Pankaj Roy’s attempt on target touched the arm of the opposition defender and the referee awarded a penalty.
It was no surprise that skipper Anwar Ali stepped up for it and made no mistake in giving Minerva Academy the lead in the 11th minute.
Minerva Academy FC then kept piling on the pressure, making it extremely difficult for Sher-e-Punjab to muster up any useful chances. Gurmukh Singh then doubled Minerva Academy FC’s lead after a cross from the left flank eluded the defenders and fell to Gurmukh on the far post, who took a first-time shot. It was deflected off Ringham but the goal was claimed to be Gurmukh’s in the 33rd minute – Minerva Academy went into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The second half started much better than the first for Sher-e-Punjab. They created chances and Nitish Mehra was forced into making some decent saves for Minerva Academy FC.
But the result was soon sealed by Minerva Academy in quick succession – with two scrappy goals from inside the box in the 53rd and 58th minute from Rhingam.
Nikhil Mali, who has been in fine form in these qualifiers, was brought on and made an instant impact from the left-wing as he went past two defenders in typical style and set up a tap in for Hemant Thakur in the 78th minute.
With a 5-0 lead, Yan Law took the liberty to send Anwar Ali upfront to play as a forward, and the 20-year old showed yet again why he’s one of the brightest young talents in the country when he zipped the ball in from the right flank across the six-yard box, and Nikhil Mali was there again to tap it in.
All in all, it was a comfortable afternoon for Minerva Academy, finishing the qualifiers with nine points from three games with clinical performances, Anwar Ali being at the fore of all of them. He finishes the qualifiers with three goals, two assists and three clean sheets – and will look to continue his form in the Punjab Super League Second Division.
