AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Encapsulating the spirit of a fast-paced game like Futsal, Speed Force FC and Kuppuraj FC scored 16 goals between themselves in the first match of Group B of the Hero Futsal Club Championship at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Friday, November 5, 2021. Speed Force took the win 9-7.

The game started at supersonic speeds as Ibrahim Ali’s brace and Zubair Bin Sultan’s goal in the first 4 minutes gave Speedforce a 3-0 lead. However, the game had just started and the tide was about to turn. Maria Vivek pulled a goal back in the 9th minute. What followed after that was an onslaught as Alson, Rajaganapathy and Basith Ahamed scored 3 goals in 4 minutes to put Kuppuraj FC into the lead.

Maria Vivek scored twice just before half-time to complete his hat-trick for Kuppuraj FC, but Ibrahim Ali scored as well to complete a hat-trick of his own. At half-time, it looked like Speedforce would come unstuck as they were trailing by 2 goals against the team from Puducherry.

However, Speedforce FC came out all guns blazing in the second half. Ibrahim Ali scored right after the half-time break, which put Kuppuraj FC into defensive mode. After a difficult patch, Speedforce FC were able to break down the Kuppuraj FC defence again. Ibrahim Ali scored another 2 goals to take his tally to 6 goals in the game.

This had put the Hyderabad-based side in the lead but Austin Jijo scored for Kuppuraj to level the game at 7 apiece. It looked like the game was heading for a draw, but Speedforce FC had the last laugh as Shubham Dayma scored in the 35th minute and skipper Mohammed Jawaad Hussain ensured that they took all 3 points home by scoring in the 37th minute.