Match Day

5:00 am, 19th July 2009: The start of the day was with a start, hearing the bang on the door. Was not surprised to see Pachan at the door as I had asked him to wake me up. He had dressed up by the time he had come to my room. I told him that I will join him in the field. I contemplated sleeping for another 10mins, but the importance of the occasion did not permit me to do that. I got ready and reached the ground at 5.50 am.
I was expecting both the teams to be there on the field. But only the A1 team had arrived - wearing white jerseys. The warm up exercises were going on. Amitabha was the first one to acknowledge my presence saying "Thanks for coming". Felt very good. They were all there - Herfi, Biswa, DP, Pachan, Somani, Anand, Jamit, Powa, Mehul.. I wanted them to do well.
The opposition did not turn up for the next 15 minutes. The match finally started by 6.20. We were up against the best team in the college - B1. They had not conceded even a single goal in the tournament. But we had momentum with us and were brimming with self belief.
We won the toss and started facing the sun. Soon our defence was under pressure with B1 striketrs - Dada, Ganesh and Patel - flaunting their skill and playing with co-ordination. Our team was slightly rusty in the opening minutes, they took advantage of this and shook the net off a corner kick. Our defence had to be blamed.
The game carried on. The opposition was trying to put us under pressure. Dada was attacking through the right. DP has played with Dada for years and on the eve of the match DP was very pessimistic of our chances and had said no one can match Dada. On this move DP was tackling Dada. Dada tried dribbling and crossing over, but this time he failed, DP had won the ball and ran to the opposite side. I felt there is a turn in the tide. We did not have to wait much for the next B1 wave. This time it was Ganesh through the center. The southpaw shot one towards the goal but the big Jamit who made full use of his height to ward off the charge. Soon there were attacks from either side, but the defenders - Herfi, Powa and Jamit along with the floating DP held fort.
Counter attacks were not effective as Pachan's injury worsened.Over and above that Mehul tipped over in one of the moves and hurt himself. This left the entire responsibility of attacks was with our best player - Amithabho.
In between the relentless attack of B1, somehow Amithabho managed the control of the ball. What followed was a fantastic run, beating Ganesh the best opposition player, a shot at the goal and a fall as he collided with a defender. He got up with a despair in his eyes as he thot he had missed the target, but he heard the referee's whistle which confirmed the goal. The entire team, reserves, and the supporters - Myself, PG and Ameya - erupted.
B1 had conceded the first goal of the tournament. A1 from nowhere seemed rejuvenated. Dada was marked by Herfi, Jamit was steadfast while DP and Powa showed excellent athleticism to cover every B1 move. Mehul and Amithabho kept taking the attack forward and B1 were given some tense moments. The whistle blew.
2nd half - A1 was able to hold on to the score 1-1 for the first 10 mins of the second half. True of any champions, B1 kept their cool even when they were not able to go up in the score. A move through the right wing masterminded by Dada, and the following passsing between Ganesh and Patel in front of the box finally scattered the defence. Patel was unmarked and he just had to get past Anand which he did with a good shot. Score 2-1.
As B1 was in followed they were more intent on wasting time. They took time to take their kicks and kept hitting the ball out to buy time. There were minor scuffles at this point of time as A1 were getting irritated with the B1 tactics of wasting time.
But there was too little time for the attack to score the levelling goal. Then came the final whistle. Final Score 2-1.
B1 might have gone through to the finals but A1 fought with all heart and might. The A1 team appreciative of the efforts of the A1 team cheered for the A1 team as it exited. Well played mates. I got fantastic entertainment for the couple of hours of sleep I missed. Congratulations A1 footballers.