Minerva Academy trounce Kharar FC in soccer final

CHANDIGARH: Minerva Football Academy Chandigarh lifted the trophy of the Seven Tiger Day and Night Soccer Cup organised by Nangal Sports Club in Ropar

Updated At : 07:16 AM Jul 16, 2015 IST

<p>Players of the Minerva Football Club after winning the Seven Tiger Day and Night Soccer Cup in Ropar. A Tribune photo</p>

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 15

Minerva Football Academy, Chandigarh, lifted the trophy of the Seven Tiger Day and Night Soccer Cup, organised by Nangal Sports Club in Ropar. In the final of the championship, Minerva defeated Kharar FC 4-1 to claim the title. Minerva Academy dominated the proceedings from the onset and scored three goals in the first half of the match to confirm their win.

Mohit Sharma, Rocky and Sunny Mahkan scored a goal each in the first 15 minutes of the play. In the second half, Minerva boys held the possession and Pankaj scored the fourth goal. For Kharar FC, Simran Singh scored the lone goal.

Earlier, in the semifinals, Kharar FC edged past Nangal Sports Club 1-0. Simran Singh scored the lone winning goal of the match. In the second semifinal, Minerva Academy struggled hard to overpower Kheri Salamatpur Football Club. The match stretched to the tie-breaker after both teams failed to score any goal. In the decider, Mohit and Sonu scored for Minerva Academy while their custodian Ranjit Bajaj saved the penalty of Jassa Singh of Kheri Salamatpur side to claim the match.

A total of 16 teams from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal had participated in the championship. The winners were awarded a cash prize of Rs 21,000 and a trophy while the runners-up got a cash reward of Rs 11,000.

Vivek Gulati of Minerva Football Academy was adjudged the best defender of the championship while his teammate goalkeeper Ranjit Bajaj was named as the best goalkeeper. Abhishek Pathania for his seven goals in the championship was given the with best striker’s title.