K.C College makes an incredible comeback to win University College Football title

by Siddharth Yadav October 26, 2016

In a thrilling finale of University College Football Tournament 2016-17 at Sports Pavilion, Marine Lines, K.C College made an unbelievable comeback against the defending champions Pillai College to win the game 3-2 after trailing 2-0 with only 15 minutes left on the clock.

Pillai College started the match in the best possible way they wished for and completely dominated the match proceedings for the whole first-half.

The breakthrough came when in the 21st minute, Kartik Yenurkar brilliantly headed in from a corner to give defending champions a solitary lead.

Nikhil Poojary, Pillai’s College talisman had a fantastic first-half. He continuously threatened K.C College’s backline with such ease.

With only two minutes left in the first-half, last year’s best player Mohammad Ishaq doubled Pillai’s lead with a towering header which was followed by none other than Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature celebration.

The dugout jumped in joy as Pillai College went into the break with two goals advantage.

In the second-half, Pillai started off from where they left as they kept on attacking in order to find the third crucial goal which would put the match beyond Pillai’s reach.

K.C College’s left back Sudhakar Ranjan and Swagat Shinde defended well to prevent any goals. With just 15 minutes left, the match completely turned on its heads.

KC’s Substitute Arish Sutaria made a huge impact in the last stages of the match. His vital touch inside the box found star player Valentine Pereira unmarked, who smashed his effort from his left foot which deflected off goalkeeper Nitin’s leg and went in.

Soon, the pressure started to take its toll on Pillai College. Three minutes after pulling one goal back, K.C College’s Sudhakar Ranjan receive a pass from Arish outside the box, and with his deadly left foot, the number 7 struck it so hard that was impossible for any goalkeeper in the world to stop it, let alone Pillai’s custodian Nitin.

The score was level now at 2-2 with 10 minutes to go. It was now or never for both the determined colleges.

But it was K.C College’s day after all. Just a minute after getting the much-needed equalizer, Arish Sutaria went through on goal completely one-on-one with goalkeeper Nitin, and without any hesitation, he swiftly rolled his shot beneath the goalkeeper to make it 3-2 for K.C College.

K.C College’s dugout erupted in joy as some of the players even entered the field to celebrate with their players. Meanwhile, Arish was booked for removing his jersey while celebrating.

Suddenly, it was all in for Pillai’s players. They had to score to take the match into penalties. The defending champions have only seven minutes to equalize.

All the pressure was on KC’s goalkeeper Nishith Nair. Nikhil Poojary, Mohammad Ishaq all came agonizingly close to level the score but couldn’t manage to beat Nishith as he made some fabulous saves to keep K.C College’s hope alive.

The referee blew the final whistle and it was K.C College who emerged as the new Champions of University College Football Tournament.

There were sorrow, tears in Pillai College’s dugout, which is quite explanatory considering they were very close to defend their title. Though they lost the final, one can’t take anything from Pillai’s College. They were brilliant throughout the tournament.

Meanwhile, K.C College’s players and coaches were celebrating with their hearts out. They stepped up when it mattered the most, and that’s what counts in the Final.