Chandigarh, January 11
Mehar Football Academy prevailed over DAV Senior Secondary School, both of Kurali, by 4-2 on penalties in the final to win the second edition of the Kanwar Harbans Lal Memorial Football Tournament at the Sector 17 Football Stadium here today.
The final failed to generate any interest among the spectators who returned home disappointed as the game was confined to the midfield throughout in both sessions. The moves were generally individualistic efforts. The forwards of both teams could not establish perfect coordination. Consequently, they were engaged in a wayward shootings.
Both halves ended goalless and the organisers ordered tie-breaker rule to resolve the deadlock.
DAV Senior Secondary School had to blame themselves for surrendering the match as Ram Lal and Sukhveer could not pack power in their penalties. Their weak shots were easily collected by Mehar Football Academy custodian Harkinder Singh. Out of four penalties, DAV School muffed two.
On the other hand, Mehar Football Academy did not make any mistake during the penalty shoot-out. They converted four to emerge winners.
Gurpreet Singh gave DAV Secondary School a perfect start by placing his spotkick on the left side of Mehar
academy custodian Harkinder Singh. Ravinder Singh restored parity with a perfect shot which kept DAV Senior Secondary School goalkeeper Ranbir Singh rooted at one place.
Ram Lal and Sukhveer of DAV School failed to get past Harkinder Singh with their feeble spot kicks. Manpreet was the second DAV School player to convert his penalty.
Mehar Football Academy converted their penalties through Ravinder Singh, Gurinder Singh, Ravinder Kumar and Ajay Singh. There was no need to take the fifth penalty as Mehar academy had already taken an unassailable 4-2 lead.
Gurpreet of DAV School was adjudged the man of the match while Indian junior probable Gagan of Chandigarh Football Academy was declared the Man of the tournament.
Mr Inderjit Singh Sandhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Sports Director, Chandigarh Administration, distributed prizes.
