Chima Okorie's New Delhi Heroes scraped past Shyam Thapa's Mohun Bagan SAIL 4-2 on penalties, after a thrilling contest ended 2-2 after 90 minutes...In a match billed as the clash of two former football giants, Cheema Okorie and Shyam Thapa, it was the former who had the last laugh when his team New Delhi Heroes emerged victorious over Mohan Bagan SAIL in a penalty shootout.
Okorie was coaching New Delhi Heroes while Thapa was managing the young Kolkata side. Both team were evenly matched and played a fast paced game which ended in 2-2 draw during the normal 90 minutes leaving the match to be decided in penalties.
Two Mohan Bagan SAIL players Subanker Dey and Malswam Zuala saw their shots saved by the Delhi goalkeeper. Four players from New Delhi Heroes converted their penalties successfully making the fifth penalty inconsequential. It was 4-2 in favour of New Delhi Heroes in the penalties.
Earlier in the match, the youthful Kolkata side could not hold their 2-1 lead and conceded a late penalty in the 72nd minute. Itaue easily beat the Mohan Bagan SAIL goalkeeper with his penalty shot giving him his second goal in the match.
It was Itaue who had given New Delhi Heroes an early lead in the 5th minute with a powerful long ranger. L.Daniel equalized for Mohan Bagan SAIL in the 34th minute with a penalty shot sending the crowd in a frenzy who were deeply rooting for Thapa’s team.
In the 55th minute, Praveen Kumar made it 2-1 for the Kolkata side with a fine header. He headed a corner which sailed over the Delhi goalkeeper and into the net. During the match, the young players from the Kolkata side were dictating the tempo with their pace and exuberance but had to contend with tall and powerful Delhi defenders. The game ended in 2-2 draw and the match was decided in tie-breaker which the Delhi side won 4-2.
New Delhi Heroes now face a Kerala club, Titanium on October 20.
Source:Goal.com
