Impressive Konaark Realtors surge to a shootout win over Kalakaar Indians

by Kaushal Shukla May 18, 2015

Konaark FC registered their second win on penalties after beating Kalakaar Indians 2-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time in the Colaba Super League game held at the Back Garden’s Ground in Colaba on Sunday, May 17th 2015.

Konaark Realtors who opened their account after last week’s shootout win over Hiraai Suns, started brightly with high intensity. Aditya Kontrollu was inches away from giving Konaark Realtors an early lead after he cut inside on his favorite left foot to fire a shot just over the crossbar in the 5th minute.

But Kalakaar Indians got into the game around the ten minute mark as their forwards started to combine well before their efforts were rewarded in the 13th minute, when Roger Sam latched onto a loose ball and set up Anil Pawar who made no mistake in slotting home to give Kalaakar Indians the lead.

The goal changed the course of the game as Kalakaar Indians started creating havoc in the Konaark defence. Roger Sam was unlucky not to have doubled Kalakaar Indians’ lead when he raced away from his marker to fire a shot which struck the upright in the 18th minute.

Konaark Realtors continued to have more of the possession in the game but it was Kalakaar Indians who racked up all the chances. Sushant Jadhav of the Kalakaar Indians saw his tipped over the bar by the Konaark Realtors goalkeeper in the final minute of the half.

Kalakaar Indians went into the break with a 1-0 lead and could have had more considering the amount of chances they had in the first half.

Konaark came storming out in the second half and had the Kalakaar Indians’ goal under siege. Mrunal Tandel unleashed a powerful drive at goal which was brilliantly kept out by Gautam Kanojia in the 44th minute.

Konaark’s second half pressure finally told when No.7’s free kick struck the woodwork and the rebound fell kindly for Chirag Walmiki who bundled home to get Konaark level.

The goal gave Konaark F.C the confidence as they began to pepper the Kalakaar Indians goal. Harish Bhoir missed a great chance to put Konaark in front when a crisp move left him with a tap in, but he failed to direct his shot on goal in the 49th minute.

Kalakaar Indians were feeling the heat as Konaark had assumed complete control of the game and the Indians were struggling to keep them at bay.

The Indians recovered towards the end of the game and Sushant Jadhav very nearly snatched it for the Indians when his shot sailed inches over the crossbar in the final minute of the game.

With both sides tied at 1-1 at full time, the game went to penalties.
In the shootout, Kalakaar’s VishalDeewar stepped up first but saw his weak effort saved by Konaark’s Chetan Dhanu who replaced Sagar Pakdhare in goal.

Mrunal Tandel put Konaark in the lead with fine penalty before Dheeraj Mestry made leveled the scores at 1-1.

Aditya Contrullu then put Konaark ahead again with an emphatic penalty before Chetan Dhanu saved Sushant Jadhav’s kick to give Konaark Realtors the victory.

The win meant Konaark had four points on board after five games while Kalakaar Indians increased their tally by a point to seven.