United Athletes showcased their attacking prowess in a thrilling friendly match against Tanmay Tutan at Vivek Vihar on 11 January 2025, securing an emphatic 11-6 victory. The match kicked off at 5:00 am, with both teams eager to make their mark in this 7-a-side encounter.
United Athletes lined up in a 2-1-3 formation, featuring a solid defensive pairing of Ayush S and Devansh in central defence. Mayank Chauhan operated as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack, while the forward line consisted of Priyanshyu Bharadwaj on the right, Aryan Shrivastav as the central striker, and Vansh Kumar on the left, all expected to exploit the spaces left by the opposition.
The substitutes for United Athletes were not listed, indicating a reliance on the starting seven to deliver the goods on the pitch.
The match began with an early shock for United Athletes as Tanmay Tutan struck first within the opening minute, taking a 1-0 lead and setting the tone for a high-scoring affair. However, United Athletes responded swiftly, with Priyanshyu Bharadwaj equalising in the 10th minute, assisted by Aryan Shrivastav, who was proving to be a pivotal figure in the attacking play.
As the match progressed, Vansh Kumar put United Athletes ahead in the 25th minute, again with an assist from Shrivastav. Yet, Tanmay Tutan quickly levelled the score at 2-2 just moments later, demonstrating their resilience. United Athletes were not deterred, with Vansh Kumar finding the net once more in the 29th minute, courtesy of another assist from Shrivastav, giving them a 3-2 advantage as the first half drew to a close.
The half-time whistle blew with United Athletes leading 3-2, but the second half promised more excitement. The action resumed, and Tanmay Tutan struck again in the 34th minute, bringing the score to 3-3. However, United Athletes quickly regained the lead with Priyanshyu Bharadwaj scoring his second goal of the match, also assisted by Shrivastav, just a minute later.
The back-and-forth nature of the game continued as Tanmay Tutan responded with another goal in the 38th minute, making it 4-4. United Athletes, however, were relentless, and Devansh found the back of the net twice in quick succession, first in the 45th minute and then again in the 46th minute, pushing the score to 6-4.
As the match progressed, the goals kept coming. Vansh Kumar scored his third goal of the match in the 48th minute, assisted by Ayush S, followed by Ayush himself scoring twice in the 50th and 51st minutes, showcasing United Athletes' dominance in the second half.
Tanmay Tutan managed to pull one back in the 52nd minute, but it was too little, too late. United Athletes capped off their impressive performance with Mayank Chauhan scoring in the 65th minute, assisted by Shrivastav, sealing an astonishing 11-6 victory.
The match was a testament to United Athletes' attacking flair and teamwork, with Aryan Shrivastav emerging as a standout performer, contributing multiple assists and playing a crucial role in the team's success. As the referee, Laura, blew the final whistle, it was clear that United Athletes had made a significant statement with this commanding win.
