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Defending champions Minerva Punjab FC Under-16 have mesmerised the football-loving crowd of the Cooperage Football Stadium in Mumbai with a scintillating performance to clinch the Nike Premier Cup of the U-16 Youth League. Jeakson Singh (7′), Lalchhanhima Sailo (11′) and Mohammed Shahjahan (33′) smacked three first-half goals to dash the debutante Ozone FC Bengaluru’s dream of winning the Nike Premier Cup in their debut season.
Right from the start, Minerva Punjab started to attack the opponent’s defence and it only took them three minutes for their first proper attack of the match, though it did not result in a goal. Minerva Punjab scored the first goal of the match through their captain Jeakson Singh within seven minutes. This out of the world long-range made the people present at the stadium go into a frenzy. The goal shot was taken at least 15 metres outside of the penalty box.
Minerva Punjab had the chance to double up their lead in the 10th minute but the cross from their left-winger was just an inch away from Mohammed Shahjahan. But the second came only a minute later through Lalchhanhima Sailo and this goal was an exact replica of the first one, except this one went inside the top left corner of the goal and the first one was banged into the right corner of the goalpost.
Even after getting the second goal, Minerva Punjab boys didn’t slow down a bit as they kept on playing their brand of pressing and tiki-taka football.
Throughout the first half of the match, the Minerva Punjab defence did a great job by nipping all the possible danger in the bud. Ozone FC Bengaluru hardly got any proper chance to take a shot onto the Minerva Punjab goal.
Thanks to the pressing football by Minervan Punjab and a perfect assist from Sailo, Mohammed Shahjahan nailed the final one in the Ozone FC coffin on 33 minutes. Needless to say, Minerva Punjab completely dominated the first half of the match and they headed to the changing room with a handsome 3-0 lead.
In the second half, just when it seemed Ozone FC were starting to settle down and getting a hang of the match, Minervan Punjab came out and put up two back-to-back attacks.
In the 51st minute, Minerva Punjab almost scored their fourth goal but unfortunately for them, it was ruled offside. Then two minutes later, Minerva Punjab was awarded a free-kick outside the box. Had it not been a brilliant save by the Ozone FC goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh, the scoreline could have been 4-0 in favour of the Minerva Punjab boys.
Minerva Punjab could afford to replace their first-choice goalie in the 75th minute. However, both of the Minerva Punjab goalies, who stood under the woodwork tonight, were hardly tested by the opponent attackers.
Ozone FC’s best chance of reducing the gap came on 83 minutes but yet again the Minerva Punjab defence was up to the task. The danger was averted with a beautifully executed sliding tackle.
The most commendable part was that both the team maintained a high tempo throughout the match. Moreover, for Ozone FC, who came into the second half with a deficit of three goals, never for a moment gave up the fight, even during the extra time they were running after the ball with utmost zeal, they always had the hunger for goal in their game but it seems the game planning let them down.
Ozone FC, who earned huge accolades for their bravado on their debut season, are awarded a cheque of INR 150,000 (1,5 lakhs) whereas Minerva Punjab FC were bestowed with the snazzy Nike Premier Cup trophy and a hefty cheque of INR 500,000 (5 lakhs).
by I-League Media
