GOALZZZ 2011: Day 1

The hysteria was rising, the atmosphere was electric and the stage was set for GOALZZZ ’11, IMNU’s national B-school football tournament. As always, teams from across the nation started their campaigns for the coveted title of the ultimate winner. 

The tournament kicked off with a match with the MICA team dominating the last year’s runner-ups K J Somaiya with a 3-0 win. JaiminTrivedi, from MICA, scored a spectacular goal from the half-line by in the 12^th minute. 10 minutes into the 2^nd half, K J Somaiya compounded their problems by giving up a penalty due to a hand-ball. Suhail Kapur didn’t miss the gift, giving MICA its 2^nd goal in the 35^th minute. In the 43^rd minute Pratap Gaul took the match away from K J Somaiya when he netted a through ball from the half line.

Emotions ran high for the 2^nd match of the day, where the home team, IMNU battled bravely against the defending champions IIM-A. IMNU defended solidly for much of the 1^st half and caused IIM-A plenty of trouble. The home side goal-keeper Pranav made some valiant saves. But IIM-A’s superior possession and constant penetration into IMNU’s defenses finally paid off in the 23^rd minute when Luca’s cross deflected into the net from the far post. IMNU’s dreams were still alive till the death when IIM-A’s Abdul finished off the match in the 48^th minute earning his team a 2^nd goal. The match ended with a score-line of 2-0 and 2 points in the bag for IIM-A.

In the day’s final match, K J Somaiya recovered brilliantly from its defeat earlier in the day to win with a score of 4-1 against Sydenham (Mumbai). Utkarsh gave Somaiya their first 3 goals in the 6^th, 11^th and 18^th minutes, scoring the first hat-trick of the tournament for himself and giving the team a 3-0 lead. In the 2^nd half, Samyajeet from Somaiya scored in the 37^th minute to make the score 4-0. Just when it seemed like Sydenham would go score-less Kaushal scored for them in the 44^th minute and the match ended with Somaiya winning with a score of 4-1 and earning 2 precious points.

At the end of the day, MICA, IIM-A and K J Somaiya had 2 points each. Somaiya’s Utkarsh was by far the leading scorer with 3 goals to his credit.

Courtesy: Chintan Dharmani