Jai Bharat S.C. clinches a narrow 1-0 win over Udaya S.C.

by Balbir Singh December 6, 2015

On 5th December, 2015, Jai Bharat Sports Club played Udaya Sports Club at Karnatak Sports Association ground, Mumbai in 20th Late Ramanath Payyade Memorial Football League Tournament at the Karnataka Sports Association ground, Churchgate. Jai Bharat S.C. crunched a narrow win against Udaya S.C. with a solitary goal scored by no.8 Roger Sam in the 11th minute of play.

Into the first 10 minutes of the match and both sides looked short of creativity in the final third and the match rarely had enough moments to create any opportunity which would lead to a genuine goalscoring chance. But the deadlock was broken not by a good angled pass or a cross, but from an initial good control and a cross cum shot from no.8 Roger Sam found its way into the top left corner beating the keeper at near post.

It seemed as if Udaya were still trying to settle in the game with nearly 2 quarters of the half played; most attempted efforts were either off target or blocked by the Jai Bharat S.C. defenders. Meanwhile, Jai Bharat S.C. created chances of their own on the counter, but largely failed with lack of quality on the delivery. As the half progressed into its final stages, Udaya became frustrated with no real gaps to exploit, they tried half hearted attempts on goal from range which rarely troubled the Jai Bharat S.C. goalkeeper.

In the second half of action, Udaya started the half brightly, but fail to capitalize on the early momentum. Whatever they tried they couldn’t penetrate through the Jai Bharat defence. In the 36th minute, Royston D’Souza of Udaya Sports Club failed to convert a one on one chance, he later hit the right upright a couple of minutes later with a delightful shot which beat the goalkeeper, but the goalpost came to Jai Bharat’s rescue.

As the game reached its midway phase in the first half, it was all one-way traffic into the Jai Bharat S.C. with their strikers largely isolated upfront, fighting a different battle altogether against Udaya’s center-backs. Jai Bharat S.C. dragged an opportunity to double their lead when no.9 Hitesh Bangera dragged his volleyed effort past the right-hand post. The game was deprived of action until the second half stoppage-time.

In the first minute of second half added-time, no.20 Clive Coutinho of Udaya hit the inside of the crossbar with his attempted header. Moments later, no.7 Filip Manoharan was presented with a glorious one on one but on the day he decided to shoot the ball way over the prone figure of the goal.
The game came with a compliment of misfortune perhaps for Udaya S.C., they would think. The 1-0 scoreline in favour of Jai Bharat S.C. was to an extend a reward for a chance they converted, on a day which saw an enormous amount of game changing moments go in vain due to lack of creativity and incisiveness in front of goal.