With one win in the bag from the previous game against Footie First earlier in the day, Team FAST were looking to bag all 3 points from the second game. However, with a tough opponent in CFCI and under extreme hot conditions, it looked an uphill task for the girls and already short on 2 players who were missed through injury and illness (Anuja and Utsavi) one would have considered a draw a good result and hope for the other results to be in our favour but not these girls, they were hungry for the win and were determined to finish off the objective of reaching the next round in the game itself.
The girls began the game in a slow and cautious manner knowing that any lapse in concentration and their opponents would punish them. However, the onslaught expected from CFCI didn't really materialize and anything that they put together was handled well by defenders Alisha and Harshini and with Shivika in goal whereas forwards Kiara and Vedika kept putting the pressure and forcing their defenders to make errors from the back.
Few minutes into the game and a goal kick from CFCI was fumbled by Shivika who dropped the ball into the feet of the CFCI forward making it a 1v1 situation in which Shivika recovered well and made a crucial point blank save deflecting the ball out for a corner. CFCI took the corner quick however the move ended up with the ball in Shivika's hands who immediately threw the ball onto the opponents goal where Alisha made a sprint and put pressure on their keeper who then panicked and mishandled the ball dropping it into her own goal. 1-0 to FAST.
CFCI started to put on the pressure but were still unable to string along a move that could break down the FAST defence. The girls too didn't look like they would settle for just one goal and took the game to CFCI as well eventually scoring another goal during the run of play. Harshini intercepted a pass in the middle of the field and played a pass out to Kiara who neatly played it back to Harshini with the latter taking a shot from far out and sending the ball in the bottom corner of the goal. 2-0 to FAST. CFCI continued to push and finally broke through the FAST defence by taking a shot from distance and this time Shivika was a little late to react as the ball came through couple of defenders and flew past her into the back of the net. 2-1 and the referee whistles for half time.
The second half began just as the first with the game being played end to end. However, the girls began to tire after already playing a game earlier in the day and CFCI started to build their momentum. With the score at 2-1 and still anybody's game to win, CFCI kept pushing for that equalizer and at one point took about 4-5 shots from almost inside the goalkeepers box but was somehow kept out with the efforts from Shivika, her defence and even the forwards who played their defensive duties well showing how determined these girls were to not let CFCI get the equalizer.
With a few changes made to the set up wherein Nyehsa, Reet and Yana played a superb role in holding the fort and keeping things tight at the back. The girls continued to power through mid way in the game with Yana almost scoring her first goal of the campaign tapping the ball into the side netting albeit the shot was made from her weaker foot, a good try indeed during the run of play. However, after soaking in all the pressure from CFCI, the girls found some momentum and scored their 3rd through Vedika with an assist from Harshini and their 4th goal from a long range effort from Harshini to seal the game for FAST 4-1.
After a very tough day in the office, the girls finished off in style booking a spot in the semi finals of the YPL. Now at the business end of the season and potentially just 2 games left to conclude the season, can FAST go all the way??? Stay tuned for more......
Goal Scorers; Alisha - 1 Harshini - 2 Vedika - 1
Assists; Shivika - 1 Kiara - 1 Alisha - 1
Star of the match - Shivika.
