16/07/2012
The beautiful game - Second year Union Games.
After a hardworking passionate performance in the first year with limited players available for the starting eleven, we can proudly say we did a decent enough job in the tournament. The semi final game saw us facing the fourth years. On the match a hartal was declared in the state. We struggled with the names and had the team list only around fifteen minutes before the start of the game. No jerseys, no proper positions, we entered the ground in green bibs. We did a good job of holding the final years to a 0-0 score line up until deep into the second half when our defense finally broke. As fate would have it though, we lost the game 1-0.
Second year. The Union games is back. This time, we were determined to make up for the lack luster performance last year. One thing that worked out to be an advantage to us was the fact that we used to play against each other almost all the evenings, and hence knew each other pretty well. We had a strong defense in Allen and Irfan and Jithesh as the make shift wingback. Nimin was a decent enough keeper, but lacked experience. Jiveesh, Abin, myself, Amith, Hafiz, Alvin, Anas and Edwin made up the rest of the team. We started strongly, wining our first game 3-0.
The semi final fixture was a strong one which saw us playing the third years, who were the favourites after the final years. Jiveesh and I were out of state during the match. The very feeling of being in two places at once filled me from top to bottom. We were in Chennai and were eagerly waiting for the result. From what we heard, it was a resolute performance and a stand out goal from Alvin that helped us win the match. The looped throw in from Amith bounced off the ground towards the keeper and Irshad, the college goalkeeper looked favourite to grab hold of it. Alvin, with the true instincts of a striker, sped up front to lob the ball into the net over the keeper to get the score line in our favour. We won the match 1-0 and did the unthinkable. We were in the final.
It was a tough fixture. The final years were the strongest team in our college. The likes of Pradosh, Hemant, Nimesh, Sujith and others were an intimidating presence on the field. But, the momentum was with us, and were absolutely determined to do well. We were hit hard early in the game, with Abin subbed out due to injury. Anas came in to play the defensive midfield role. We held the ball well, and did a decent job of defending. It did pay dividence and we were in the lead at the stroke of half time with Edwin giving us the valuable goal.
The second half started with us being on the front foot. We were not ready to sit back on the single goal lead and were passing the ball well. Mid way through the second half and we were awarded a penalty, for Jiveesh to slot home the second of the game. The seniors then had a physical approach to the game, and we were being torn apart with boots and shoulders. Two red cards and we found ourselves in a comfortable position leading at 2-0 against nine men. The game was meandering along to a silent victory. What happened next will be etched in my memory forever. When the second read card was shown to their captain, we had a short meeting and decided we would pass the ball in our halves and not let them take the physical approach to us. I pass the ball to Anas, who slides it on to Jiveesh in the centre. In one quick turn, he spins to the left flank and puts the ground on fire, sprinting up ahead towards the goal post, with the defenders left standing. The centre back comes in and takes him out for us to see a puff of dust rise with Jiveesh thrown flat out inside the box. What was a clear penalty was given as a free kick just outside the box, since the referee was concerned about the raging final year supporters who looked set to come into the ground if anything was given against us. Anas comes up to take the dead ball. The ball is looped towards the far post and we were celebrating an emphatic victory already! The game finished 3-0! :)
More than the fact that we did win, the way we did it, made it all the more special. Memories like these are too hard to even fade, let alone be rubbed away. Sheer ecstasy drove us mad and it stands out as the best memory I have in my college life! Team S3 - Victorious. Champions of GEC! :)