Jai Bharat Sports Club march into the final after a 2-0 success over Udaya S.C

by Balbir Singh November 15, 2015

The second semifinal of the 9^th edition of Late Advt. A. R. Kudrolli Memorial Knockout Football Tournament 2015 was played at Karnatak Sports Association ground, Mumbai between Udaya Sports Club and Jai Bharat Sports Club, which saw the latter beat Udaya S.C. comprehensively by two goals to zero. A stunner form Saumil Damor on 38 minutes opened the scoring for Jai Bharat S.C. and Rishub Puthran wrapped up the win with a 60 (+1) minute goal.

Udaya S.C. started of brightly, but couldn’t find a control over the course of game as it progressed.  Udaya S.C. were without two of their star players from their last-week’s quarterfinal win over Magoveera S.C., first, Royston (who wasn’t available for selection) and Oliver (who wasn’t present in town). The loss of these two in midfield meant Mohit was alone from the trio and if had make a difference it will be a harder test for his side. In their game against Magoveera, Udaya S.C. worked out balls in midfield and created space in the middle drawing the opposition into it before they played balls out wide into open areas. That plan didn’t work out this time and they struggled to get a grip in midfield, let alone the game.

The game saw a good number of chances fell to Udaya Sports Club in the first half despite their lack of control. Jai Bharat S.C. enjoyed just one good chance in first half stoppage time when a good run by their number 8 Roger Sam down the left was underutilized when his pass went for an outside untouched.

At the start of the second half, most spectators expected a goal to come from Jai Bharat S.C., and when they scored it wasn’t the goal scored which surprised most but the manner in which it was scored by number 2 Saumil Damor on 38 minutes. The keeper stood still as Saumil volleyed effort cleared the Udaya S.C. defence and goalkeeper as it landed in the back of the net.

Udaya S.C. came close to leveling-up on 42 minutes when Clive Coutinho’s effort was saved by Manish Shetty. 2 minutes later he was again presented with an opportunity to level things up when a off target header could be converted into goal by a tap-in but instead the number 20 chose to head the ball instead, and eventually miss it.

Jai Bharat S.C. looked to the hold their lead as the game progressed into its last quarter, which saw a booking to goalkeeper Manish Shetty on 53 minutes. On 57 minutes a good chance fell to J.B.S.C. in a 1v1 situation but they failed to wrap up the win. They finally calmed the nerves down when Rishub Puthran scored past Kartik Puthran to make it 2-0 to J.B.S.C.

An overall thrilling encounter saw Saumil Damor score one of the goals of the tournament and pulsating end to the semifinals. Jai Bharat S.C. will look to continue their march towards the podium on the final day as winner of the tournament, before they beat Star of Canara S.C. Will they? It is to be decided on the 21^st of November 2015.