Yash Warriors rally to a shootout win over Hina Royals

by Kaushal Shukla April 26, 2015

Yash Warriors made a splendid second half comeback after being 2-0 down in the first half to level the scored at 2-2 and then win the shootout 3-2 in a Colaba Super League encounter at the Back Garden Ground in Colaba.

Yash Warriors wasted no time in getting out of the blocks as Chirac Baria brilliantly headed a cross goal wards but was denied by a heroic save from Hitesh Paghdhare in the 3rd minute.

The early opening spurred on the Yash Warriors asthey dominated the opening twelve minutes of the game.

Hina Royals almost stunned Yash Warriors in the 15th minute when Nikesh Meher squeezed his header from a tight angle only to be cleared off the line by Ramakant Pawar.

Three minutes later Hina Royals took the lead when Kalpesh Nijap headed home from a corner. The goal sparked celebrations in the Royals dugout after their side did brilliantly to claim the advantage in a game where they had been under the cost early on.

Buoyed by their opening goal, Hina Royals began to pepper the Warriors goal with aeriel crosses and Kalpesh Nijap very nearly doubled his and his side’s tally on 20 minutes after his header from point blank range was kept out by Kishen Sulegai’s outstretched leg.

But Hina Royals did not have to wait too long, as Saurabh Meher’s long range effort sailed into the top corner to double Royal’s lead a minute later.

Yash Warriors did manage to conjure up an opportunity before the end of the first half when Bhavesh Vaidya made a dazzling run into the Royals box only to fire his effort straight at Hitesh Paghdhare in the Royals goal.

Hina Royals deservedly went with a two goal lead at the break as Yash Warriors capitulated late in the first half.

Second half was more of an even contest as Ronak Solanki who replaced Kishen Sulegai had to be alert to punch clear a Royals effort in the 40th minute.

Yash Warriors came right back into the game when Ramakant Pawar fired in a free kick into the top corner in the 42nd minute.

The Warriors completed a stunning comeback when Kishen Sulegai who played in a forward position slotted home from close range in the 45th minute to make it 2-2.

Despite plenty of efforts neither team could find the winner as the game went into a penalty shoot out for one extra point.

Yash Warriors took the momentum into the shootout to register a 3-2 win with Prathamesh Kasare, Bhavesh Vaidya and Karan Bhoir scoring the all important spot kicks for the Warriors.

Yogendra Meher and Saurabh Me her scored for Hina Royals before Hitesh Paghdhare’s kick was saved by Kishen Sulegai.

The shoot out win means Yash Warriors collect two points while Hina Royals had to settle for a point.

In an earlier game, Naaz United beat Hiraai Suns 1-0 thanks to a spectacular 29th minute strike from Karim Shaikh.