The inaugural edition of the Interdepartmental League has been eagerly anticipated by several people in the institute. It is the perfect platform for sporting enthusiasts from different departments to pit their wits and skills against one another. Stepping into the mix with high hopes, the HS football team commenced their campaign with an exciting victory against the Metallurgy Department.
The HS team consists of several players who have made a name for themselves in the Schroeter and amateur sporting circles, namely Adithya Haneef, Suraj, Sherwin Rodriguez, Simha, Renjith and Dayal. So even with the presence of more fearsome squads, the HS squad is still no slouch and this was demonstrated on the field.
The HS team began the match on an aggressive note. Adithya Haneef, the chief striker of the team kept making quick inroads into the other half, supported by the lanky Suraj who kept serving exquisite passes. And his perseverance wasn’t kept waiting, for he scored quite early. Wading into the penalty box past the defence, a gentle lob sent the ball curving low into the net. Quite the way to make a mark, and the stands were unequivocal in their appreciation of the same.
But due credit has to be given to the Metallurgy side who didn’t take this lying down. They came out fiercely, with counter attacks of their own. Coordinated by Hari, they gave the defence quite a challenge. Sherwin was the toast of the defence, fearlessly countering any and every potential attack. His confidence showed in his game and his able command of the situation. But there was a lack of sync in the defence’s efforts, as a lot of interceptions were left unattended. And the lack of a proper midfield setup offset the team’s balance. The team was slipping up and the opponents kept pressing. Finally, they struck back, in a manner rather unlikely. A lofty free kick, sent in by Hari, brushed past the outstretched arms of Biyas and ambled on to a corner of the net. Despite efforts to counter, the HS team could do nothing until halftime. Perhaps the next half had better things in store.
The second half saw a renewed effort by the HS team, who dominated though not by a huge margin. Adithya and Suraj kept playing on, but the former wasn’t at the top of his powers owing to an injured leg. Renjith, Dayal and Navneeth did step up, the former two with spirited countering and agility and the freshman with timely interceptions. But the team’s efforts came to naught, with the game reaching fulltime with a stalemate. It was time for the penalty shootout.
Here, Renjith took on the gloves from Biyas. As a goalie for the Bhadra Schroeter side, there was no one else better suited for such a situation. Adithya, Sherwin, Dayal and Suraj took shots and all very beautiful ones at that; the hapless Metallurgy goalie could only watch. Renjith’s skill as a goalie was on display for all to see, with sharp dives countering the Metallurgy players. The Metallurgy side could only slot in two goals and with Renjith rendering their last effort useless, victory was assured. Thus the first match ended in a thrilling finish on penalties, with a margin of 4-2. The team has now progressed on to the quarterfinals.
The squad has a few things to improve on, the current form notwithstanding. And with the return of Yadu and a few others, the team will be supplemented well. But the next match is anything but easy. The formidable Mechanical Engineering team has established itself as a strong contender for the trophy. It will be quite the challenge to surpass it. With great hopes and bated breath, we shall wait to see what happens.
Report by Rahul Jose
Pictures by Ajayraj
Article 19 