Post News Network
Cuttack, Dec 22: Defending champions Sunrise Club retained the FAO First Division Super League title beating Rising Students in a high voltage final at the Barabati Stadium here Tuesday.
In a match where fortunes swung like a pendulum, Susai Raj of the winning team got the all important goal of the match in the 10th minute. The scoreboard may just displayed a goal, but the match was much more intense and interesting and nearly 5,000 people in the flood-lit stadium enjoyed every moment of it to the hilt.
Sunrise started on an aggressive note and they created a scoring chance in the fifth minute. However they missed it by a whisker.
Rising Students were alarmed by the opposition’s early momentum and increased their intensity. However, Sunrise players were more opportunistic and broke the deadlock five minutes later when out of nowhere Susai scored from a half chance. He flummoxed the goalkeeper with his cheeky kick from the right side of the box and it beat the rival custodian all ends up.
Rising Students also had their chances in the game. They missed an easy scoring opportunity when Sk Rohit muffed it up in the 25th minute. Another opportunity came their way in the30th minute, but Sunrise goalkeeper kept away a powerful kick by fisting the ball out.
After the breather, Barabati witnessed the game of soccer at its best. Rising Students tried their best to up the ante. With two Nigerians on their side they played a speed and power-packed game. But Sunrise players displayed skillful soccer to thwart their attempts. But even then, Rising Students will have to blame their own players for missing three chances in the 50th, 55th and 62nd minutes.
Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Asirbad Behera joined as the chief guest and gave away the prizes. Champions Sunrise team bagged a cash prize of `1,00,000 along with a glittering trophy. Rising Students Players took home `50,000 along with the runners-up trophy.
FAO IInd Division champions Rovers Cup bagged `25,000 and runners-up, Club N Club went home richer by `15,000