Spirited Golden Tigers hunt down Leaders Naaz United

by Kaushal Shukla May 18, 2015

Golden Tigers saw off a late Naaz United onslaught to beat the league leaders 1-0, thanks to a fourteenth minute strike from Aakash Khadka in the Colaba Super League game held at the Back Garden’s Ground in Colaba on Sunday, May 17th 2015.

After a sluggish start to the early morning game, Golden Tigers made the breakthrough in the 14th minute, when Aakash Khadka fired the Tigers in the lead with a fine finish.

The goal blew energy into the game, as Golden Tigers looked to double their lead with the wind very much in their sails. But the leaders showed their class as they weathered the storm and managed to get a foothold in the game. In form striker Karim Shaikh came close to an equalizer just minutes before the break.

Golden Tigers held firm to take a slender lead at the break.

The second half was an even contest, with both teams coming close on many occasions in the opening exchanges. Walter Liu was unfortunate not to have equalized for Naaz United in the 40th minute when his header from a free kick looped inches over the crossbar.

Six minutes later, Karim Shaikh almost broke free of his marker at the edge of the penalty area before Kunal Tandel brilliantly recovered to tackle the marauding Naaz United forward.

Naaz United tightened its grip on the game and began to look more threatening as the game entered its final ten minutes. Naaz United were almost rewarded in the final minute of the game when Walter Liu brilliantly cushioned a header in Lakhan Lokhande’s path whose effort which looked destined for the back of the net before a brilliant block from a Golden Tigers defender.

Deep into stoppage time, Golden Tigers survived yet another scare when a cracking Karim Shaikh strike was brilliantly saved by Golden Tigers custodian Prakash Chavan.

The Tigers held on for a massive win which lifted them to third spot in the table for the time being as Naaz United succumbed to their first defeat of the campaign which opened the way for Brainy World to go top of the CSL charts.

Golden Tigers goalkeeper, Prakash Chavan was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match for a heroic performance in goal which kept the League Leaders at bay.