In a nail-biting finale that went down to the wire, Sports Hostel Lucknow emerged victorious in the Junior Men's State Hockey Tournament, edging out Sports Hostel Jhansi 2-1 in a tense penalty shootout. The championship clash was held at the Padma Shri Mohd Shahid Hockey Stadium on Wednesday, culminating in dramatic fashion after the teams were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
Regulation Time Sees End-to-End Action
The match began with Sports Hostel Lucknow seizing early control. Abhijeet opened the scoring with a field goal in the 9th minute, giving his side a crucial early advantage. The lead was swiftly doubled just three minutes later when Atif successfully converted a penalty corner in the 12th minute, putting Lucknow in a commanding 2-0 position.
However, Jhansi refused to back down. Their captain, Praduman Yadav, pulled a goal back from a penalty corner in the final minute of the first quarter, setting the score at 2-1 and injecting new life into the contest. The battle intensified in the second half, with Jhansi pressing hard for an equalizer.
Jhansi Forces Shootout with Late Equalizer
The persistence of Sports Hostel Jhansi paid off in the dying stages of the match. Akshat Verma became the hero for his side, scoring from a penalty corner in the 55th minute to level the scores at 2-2. This crucial goal pushed the final into a decisive penalty shootout, setting the stage for a high-pressure conclusion.
Lucknow Holds Nerve in Decisive Shootout
The shootout was a test of nerves and precision. For the triumphant Lucknow side, Raghvendra and Abhijeet kept their composure to find the target. Their efforts were brilliantly complemented by goalkeeper Lalit, who made critical saves to deny Jhansi's attempts. On the opposing side, only Ankit Patel managed to score in the shootout for Sports Hostel Jhansi, as Lucknow's defense held firm to secure a 2-1 shootout victory and clinch the state title.
In other sports news from Lucknow on Wednesday, the 8th Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Memorial Football Tournament saw exciting matches at the Dilkusha ground. Lucknow Youth secured a narrow 5-4 win over Tectro B in a penalty shootout, while Mid Winter registered a 2-1 victory against LDA Football Club.
