AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Tata Football Academy (Tata Football Academy) came back from behind to beat U-18 AIFF Academy 3-2 to lift the 120^th IFA Shield at the Mohun Bagan ground.

The AIFF colts began with a bang and dominated most of the first half. As early as the 3rd minute Bedashwor made a run cutting in from the left and earned a corner. The U-18 boys played some delectable passes and kept the rival defence busy all throughout.

In the process, they earned a process of corners and it was from the fifth corner that they surged into the lead. A composed Anirudh Thapa played it to Nijwm who tried to cut into the box but was thwarted for a corner. Jerry Lalrinzuala’s resultant corner was headed in by Bodo who finished as the Man of the Tournament later.

The goal added to the confidence of the AIFF boys. They did get a couple of golden chances to stretch their lead but Prosenjit and Nijwm turned wasteful.

And they paid heavily for that as TFA’s Shubham Ghosh, later adjudged the Man of the Match, equalised at the stroke of halftime as both Teams headed to the interval 1-1.

On resumption, AIFF colts, much like the first half, were faster off the blocks and dictated most part of it. They came close to taking the lead in the 54^th minute but Thapa’s curler off a free-kick rebounded off the post.

Another opportunity went abegging in the 65^th minute but Prosenjit failed to capitalise after being set up by Edmund.

TFA made the most of it and took the lead in the 72^nd minute, Shubham converting from the spot.

That seemed to look like the match winner and it was only in the injury time that AIFF colts pulled it back when Jerry placed it in off an indirect free-kick from inside the box to stretch it to the extra time.

Jerry, however, stayed guilty of having deflected it into his own net in the 10^th minute as TFA took a 3-2 lead.

Stung by the reverse, AIFF colts went all out and TFA did survive some anxious moments. But the AIFF colts couldn’t put it into the net.

Former legends, namely PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, Samar (Badru) Banerjee, Syed Nayeemuddin, Shabbir Ali amongst others were present on the occasion.