There were four matches played on the second day of the Department Football Tournament – second years vs. research scholars, third years vs. fifth years, second years vs. fourth years and first years vs. fifth years. The tournament began around 7.30pm and went on for over four hours.
The teams fought hard in the first match. The scholars played a more offensive football as compared to the second years. Redeff scored a goal for the PhD Scholars. The defence triangle of the Scholars was strong, but Karnalius, from the second year managed to save the team by scoring one goal. In the second half of the game, most goals attempted were averted, both by Melwin and by Nishant, who relentlessly prevented them all. The research scholars Praveen, Ranjeeth and Jithin deserve a special mention. The game ended in a draw; 1-1.
The second match, played between the third years and the fifth years began with attacks counter-attacks by both teams. The third years went into the match all warmed up after rounds of jogging around the Sangam grounds. Mahesh, from the fifth year team scored one goal. The fifth years did not allow the third years to take up the many chances they had of scoring. Joseph, from the third year did not let the fifth years score a second time. The second half of the game was less eventful. The players grew either tired or disinterested. There was little running. The game ended thus is in 1-0, in favour of the fifth years.
The third match was of a livelier character. The second years were put against a team of brutal skill. Siddharth, from the fourth year team, scored the first goal. Melwin continued to prove the saviour of the second years. The second years received a penalty kick. Karnalius kicked, but the ball was saved by Sannihit. Siddharth scored yet again, this time with his head. Confronted with a powerful team, the team dynamic of the second years increases, with every single player in the field now giving it their all. Aswin and Bitthal, from the second years grow stronger in their defence as the game goes on. Piyush made a stellar run from the midfield and scored the third goal single-handedly for the fourth years. This game saw two injuries. In spite of being injured after playing three consecutive halves, Karnalius continued to play. Rimil and Venkat from the fourth year team did a great job for their team. The game ended in the victory of the fourth years, a 3-0. This was the last match among the group B teams, consisting of the second years, fourth years and PhD scholars.
Yesterday the fourth years had defeated the PhD scholars, scoring 3-0. The PhD scholars drew against the second years, 1-1. This meant that both the second years and the PhD scholars found themselves in an equal position. Which team is to play in the semi-finals tomorrow, will be determined by a penalty shootout.
The last match of the night was played between the first years and the fifth years. Having tasted defeat yesterday, the first years were now well prepared to play against the seasoned fifth years. Their enthusiasm was commendable. Yadukrishnan, a first year scord the first goal. Athul kicked a ball with such force that it ended up on a tree on the other extreme of the court. Mahesh kicked a penalty, due to a hand ball, leading to a 1-1. Savio and Athul played brilliantly .
At half-time, speaker Venkataraman Ganesh, a fourth year commented, “Freshies are like rocking the show and kicking the fifth years’ ass. Fifth years still have good players and can make it up in fifteen minutes” . Fifth year Avinash did really make it up, scoring the second goal for the fifth year team. The game ended in a 2-1 win in favour of the fifth years.
As a result of today and yesterday’s matches, the teams competing in the semi-finals are the 3rd years vs. the 5th years and the 4th years, who will now compete either against the PhDs or the second years, depending on the result of the penalty shootout.
– Ashraya Maria
Article 19 