Maharashtra Police win football tournament

Maharashtra Police won a state- level football tournament defeating Football Leaders Academy, Mumbai 5-4 in sudden death here today.
Both teams put up a spirited show in the final of Maharashtra State Football Championship in front of a cheering crowd of 5,000-plus spectators at Science Core Ground.
It turned out to be a genuine Republic Day treat for the football lovers of the city as the two sides put up a gritty show throughout the regulation time, conceding no quarter whatsoever.
If the cops dominated the exchanges in the first half, it were FLA strikers who tested the rival golie time and again in the second half, but in vain.

The best moment of the match came in the first half when FLA's Mukhtar Sayyad's throw-in lob was smartly directed by Laudry Brown towards Maharashtra Police goal with a back- foot flick, which was brilliantly saved by golie Mussaid Khan.
Thereafter, both teams laboured it out for a goalless first half.

On resumption, FLA boys combined well to launch some interesting forays from either wing but success eluded them notwithstanding. Impeccable defence of both the sides ensured that the match went into tie-breaker where both teams missed one penalty each for a 4-4 tie.
In the sudden death, FLA missed the target while Maharashtra Police banged home the match-winner (5-4).

The winners took home a trophy and a cash purse of Rs 21,000, while the runners-up got a trophy and a cash purse of Rs 15,000. Mayor Chanranjit Kaur Nanda gave away the prizes.
The tourney was organised by the city's Independent Club and sponsored by Amravati Municipal Corporation. It was organised to celebrate the golden jubilee of Independent Club.