Karnatak Sports Club pip Karnatak Amateurs Sports Club on penalties to seal semi-final spot

by Balbir Singh November 9, 2015

The 4^th quarterfinal of the 9th edition of late advocate A. R. Kudrolli Memorial Knockout Football Tournament between Karnatak Amateurs Sports Club and Karnatak Sports Club was played on 8^th November 2015 at Karnatak Sports Association, Mumbai. With the last-place in the semifinal at stake, both teams played-out cautiously throughout the 60 minutes. Both teams created chances, but none which would provide a genuine goal scoring chance. At the end of normal time, both the sides were tied at 0-0. The match went into penalties; K.S.C. beat K.A.S.C. 4-2 to cement their place in the semifinals of the tournament.

The nature of the match was exactly as the score-line suggests. Uneventful throughout the 60 minutes with the penalty shootout being the only intriguing aspect in the match. The game although started on an attacking note when Karnatak S.C.’s number 5 made a diagonal run into the channel was met by a pass played by Sagar Shetty. But Sagar Salian could only place the ball straight into the keeper’s gloves. Equally good opportunities were granted to both the teams inside the first 10 minutes of the game.

An aspect the Karnatak Amateurs Sports Club coach would like to develop will be their communication and understanding. On various occasions, players seemed pretty discomforted by the choices their teammates were making timely. Particularly number 7 Shravan Shetty looked duly frustrated with his teammates. He wasn’t provided the ball at times when there was clear opportunity on the break, which drained the midfielder’s moral.

Late in the second-half both sides were presented with equally good chances, but neither converted their chances. As the game went into the penalties, it was test for two best players of the match, the two goalkeepers, who were better than any of outfield players.

Karnatak Amateurs Sports Club and Karnatak Sports Club both scored their first penalty. K.A.S.C. missed their second while K.S.A. converted. Both scored their third penalties, and the pressure mounted on the 4^th penalty taker Nimesh Shetty who missed from the spot. Stepped-up Svilzor Pinto for Karnatak Sports Club and he converted from the spot.

The semifinal between Karnatak Sports Club and Star of Canara Sports Club will be played on the 14^th of November 2015 at the Karnatak Sports Association, Mumbai.