Sport - Football

Superior Punjab stops Services

— Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

VICTORY DANCE: The Punjab team celebrates in style after retaining the Santosh Trophy on Sunday.

SRINAGAR: A tactically superior Punjab overran Services 1-0 to retain the Santosh Trophy the crown of supremacy in India’s inter-state football. The final of the 62nd National football championship here at the Bakshi Satdium on Sunday, saw the title going to the side showing better balance in creativity and purpose.

A 51st minute penalty gave the opportunity for the defending champion. Stopper-back Jaspal Singh then put the ball into the net.

Punjab, which won the last edition in Gurgaon (Haryana), proved its class and stopped the seemingly indefatigable Services. The defence outfit, which was the only undefeated side in the tournament, failed to reproduce the form that defeated Punjab 2-1 in the quarterfinal league stage.

Punjab coach Jagir Singh was visibly delighted that his team managed to have the last laugh. “I told my boys before the match that our reputation would be at stake if we go down again to the same side,” he said. “It feels nice now that my words could create the right impact,” he added.

The first session, which ended barren, gave an indication of things to come. It was for the first time that Services could not find the lead in the opening session. Having scored 28 goals in the tournament, Services had got an early break in every match it played since the elite quarterfinal stage.

The Punjab defenders, especially the two wing-backs Ravinder Singh and Baldeep Singh, stuck to their roles effectively cramping Services’ efforts of utilising the flanks.

This effectively checked Services speedy forays through the flanks stunting the movement of its prolific strikers Sochungmi Raleng and Shaji D’Silva.

“They (Punjab) succeeded in slowing the game by blocking the flanks. My boys fell into their ploy and were not able to break out of it,” said Services coach Raghavendra Singh.

Raleng also injured himself trying for the extra pace that would shake off his markers, and was replaced in the 84th minute by Lal Sangliana. The match turned into a battle of attrition as Services retreated into a shell unable to fight off the tight defending by Punjab.

The second session looked entirely different with Punjab opening out in an offensive mould. The break came soon after (51st minute) as Services defender Lal Ruatafela handled the ball inside his box in his haste to check the marauding Punjab forwards Sakatar Singh and substitute Balraj Singh.

Services custodian Robikanata Singh made an unsuccessful attempt while rushing out to clear a floater from the opponent half, clearing the two Punjab strikers unmarked inside Services box.

Ruatafela, who was the lone Services defender in the box, then made his mistake.

Punjab received the winner’s cheque of Rs. 5 lakh and also got the fair-play award. Services earned Rs. 3 lakh as the runner-up while Raleng was named the player of the tournament for scoring 13 goals.

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