Port Blair, Jan 02: Punjab and Odhisha will clash in the final of the 58th SGFI National School Football Championship at Netaji Stadium tomorrow. In the first Semifinal played today at FIFA Ground in JNRM Campus, The Punjab team defeated Kerala in the tie breaker by 5-3. In the first half Kerala scored the first goal, but the Punjab team came back strongly in the second half and scored the equalizer in the very early moments. Both the teams failed to score the winning goal, in the allotted time.
Extra time was given, but none of the teams could make use of it. In the tie breaker Punjab strikers converted 5 kicks into goal, while the Kerala boys missed two important kicks and thus Kerala lost the game to Punjab by 3-5, in the tie-breaker. In the league round Punjab
defeated IPSC by 4-0, and Haryana by 3-2. In the Quarter Final the team won the match against Gujarat by 1-0.
The second Semifinal was also very interesting. In a very tight match, Odhisha defeated Delhi by 2-1. In the first half the team of delhi was ahead by 1-0. In the second half Odhisha played like Champions, and scored the Equalizer in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Taking the lead Odhisha went on to score another goal. The team of Delhi had tried a lot to equalize, but failed. Odhisha was declared winner by 2-1.
The team of Odhisha had been playing good football so far in the tournament. The team demolished CBSE by 15 Goals in the league round, and drew the match with Kendriya Vidyalaya with 0-0. In the quarterfinal Odisha defeated Maharashtra by 2-1.
Meanwhile the players of the other teams are utilizing their stay at Port Blair. Every day, tours are programmed for the boys to different historical places. The manager of the Haryana team Mr. Charan Singh told that they are overwhelmed with the hospitality they received here. He said he has been to so many places in the country, but none of the organizing centre can compete with Andaman Nicobar. The liaisoning officers are helping a lot, he said.
The coach of Daman and Diu Mr. Gomes said the same things when asked. He said that the Ground condition, Organising style here is unique.
The final of the 58th SGFI National School Football Championship will be played at 2.30 PM at Netaji Stadium tomorrow between Punjab and Odhisha.
