The semi final clash between the second years and the fourth years, in all honesty, was boring despite having all the ingredients of a great match. The clash ended in a nail-biting penalty shootout which the second years won, but saving that, the match really did not offer much in terms of excitement. In hindsight, the first move of the match was a clear indicator of things to come– Adithya attempted to score a goal directly from the half line. Perhaps, if the attempt had succeeded, the match would have been different, but it didn’t and instead, the spectators (mostly freshies with a sprinkling of second and fourth years) were treated to what can be described as Adithya versus the rest, with Athul Muraleedharan, Savio Daimary, Nityanshu Sengar and Simha Y.N. being featured in minor roles and Monish Balraj and Haridhar K doing a cameo.
The match started on a positive note, with rain thankfully not playing spoilsport and allowing the wet end of the Sangam field to dry considerably. The second years chose to defend at wet end for the first half, and within seconds, the crowd witnessed an attempt at a long shot goal (mentioned earlier) by Adithya. The fourth years followed this up by squandering a good chance to score – a fumble by Allen Christo Santi, the second years’ defender, led to anxious moments, but Nityanshu failed to convert a beautiful cross from Adithya. It must be said that the dependence of the fourth years on Adithya was on full display in this match – for the most part, it was Adithya dribbling, tackling and attempting to score, while trying simultaneously to create chances for his team mates. This role was played by Athul for the second years, though it must be admitted that he was better assisted by Simha and Savio Daimary than Adithya ever was by his team. The initial promise shown by the second year attackers led to disappointment when what started off as a coordinated attack fell into disarray as the game progressed. The fourth years however improved considerably as the time progressed, with the addition of Haridhar and Monish lending teeth to their attack. Susmit Panzade had to come up with a brilliant save to not concede what would have been an extraordinary goal, but very soon, a goal was scored by the second years on a penalty kick offered by Joseph George. Savio kicked the ball hard enough for Biyas Muhammed to never really have a chance at preventing the goal.
The action off field during the first half was at times as interesting as the one on field i.e. not very interesting at all. The rather lacklustre feel of the match can also be attributed to the lack of cheering from the crowd. While the fourth years and fans at least attempted to cheer their team on, the second years didn’t even bother trying — clearly, in the absence of Yadu Krishnan, there was no one who could get the batch together. With Aiswarya Aanand playing in the field, the fourth years too seemed to have a lost a major cheerleader, though Zainab Ummer Farook rose up rather admirably to the occasion. Yet, the lack of cheering and competing slogans felt very un-footbally.
The break witnessed the fourth years crowding around Adithya’s prone figure on the field – playing without shoes (as always), Adithya had had the misfortune of having his foot stepped upon by Savio. The effect of this injury was palpable throughout the second half — Adithya could be seen limping and asking for Volini on more than one occasion. A goal down, it seemed as if the fourth years were done for, but the addition of Monish to the ranks made things easier for them. With Joseph and Monish defending, the ball very rarely reached Biyas. An opportunity at scoring was squandered once more by the fourth years, with a cross from Adithya finding no convertor and slipping past the second post. The second years’ defense fell short time and again, and it was through some luck and some quick running by the Simha-Athul-Savio trio that the second years managed to hold out for some time. Their luck however ran out very soon — a free kick that had been awarded to the fourth years saw the ball hit the top of the post and rebound, but some quick thinking saw Monish rush in and score a goal.
With the scores equalized and energy levels dropping, the rest of the half and the extra time was a very tame affair, with neither team truly dominating the other, though it must be said that the fourth years clearly had greater ball possession. Ajsal E.A. did miss a great pass from Athul though, and with the match being tied 1-1 at the end of extra time, it was time for penalties.
The penalties, in the very end, made up slightly for the rather tame affair that was the main match. Biyas remained the Goalkeeper for the fourth years, but the second years replaced Susmit with Savio. The time before the penalties also saw Adithya ask the reporter whether there was a rule regarding the compulsory inclusion of a girl in the penalties. With memory being cluttered by cobwebs, it was left to the Department Secretary (Adithya himself) to decide on the issue, and Athul and Adithya agreed to having at least one female penalty taker. In the honest opinion of this correspondent, that move was more advantageous to the second years than to the fourth years – Biyas being the better goalie, the game could have swung in the fourth years’ favour if this rule was not reintroduced. In the end, Simha and Athul scored big for the second years, with only Nityanshu doing the same for the fourth years. Joseph and Adithya were unlucky to have the ball rebound off the post and Monish’s kick was disqualified by the ref, but credit must be given to Savio for some deft goal keeping.
It must also be mentioned that Suraj Unnikrishnan Menon, the referee, did a fine job of withstanding pressure from seniors to give just decisions throughout the match. This isn’t to say that some of the decisions were not controversial, but when asked about it, Suraj said that some of the supposed fouls were “unintentional and in the way of the ball” and that he stood by his decision. With the score reading 2-1 in favour of the second years, the finals have officially become a freshie vs freshie event. While the first years are the favourites running into the match, there is no doubt that the going will not be easy for them.
Report by Venkatraman Ganesh
Photographs by Parthiv Kidangoor
Article 19 