Lal Bahadur Gymnasium and Tripura Police have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the Rakhal Shield Knockout Football Tournament, following hard-fought victories in their respective quarter-final matches on Tuesday.
From the beginning of the match, Birendra Club had put up a tough challenge for Lal Bahadur’s players. The battle for ball possession was intense. Despite several positive attacks by the higher-budget team, Lal Bahadur, their strikers failed to find the net due to poor finishing which has been a concern for Lal Bahadur’s coach, Jarzuliana.
If this issue isn’t resolved before the semi-final match against Agiye Chalo, Lal Bahadur’s dream of playing in the finals might be shattered. Meantime, the club management decided to bring in a striker from Mizoram immediately after the match.
After a barren first half, Lal Bahadur Gymnasium’s red-and-yellow squad emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win over Birendra Club in the second half. The crucial goal, scored by defender Joseph Lal Nun Puia in the 78th minute, came from a penalty after a foul on Lal Bahadur’s Lal Biak Moana during a counter-attack.
Despite the relentless pressure from Birendra Club, Lal Bahadur’s defense held firm, especially in the final minutes, ensuring their place in the next round. The match was marked by intense battles for ball possession, with Lal Bahadur’s coach, Jarzuliana, expressing concern over his team’s finishing abilities.
Acknowledging this, the club management has decided to bring in a new striker from Mizoram ahead of their semi-final clash against defending champions Agiye Chalo Sangha, scheduled for August 22 at Umakanta Mini Stadium.
In another encounter, Tripura Police stunned Jewells Association with a 2-1 comeback victory. Rohit Singh of Jewells Association opened the scoring in the 6th minute, but Tripura Police quickly responded with an equalizer by Badal Debbarma just four minutes later. The match remained tightly contested, with both teams striving to break the deadlock.
However, it was Tripura Police’s Pritam Hossain who emerged as the hero, scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute with a spectacular solo effort. Hossain’s performance earned him the man of the match award, as his team advanced to face last year’s runner-up, Ramkrishna Club, in the second semi-final on August 23 at Umakanta Mini Stadium.