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A Jharkhand player (white) vies for the ball at JRD Tata Sports Complex on Friday. Picture by Bhola Prasad
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It needed a special effort and one man ensured that his team did not stutter on its way to the final.
The unstoppable Y. Gopi Singh was back in action on Friday, flummoxing his opponents with some crafty footwork, to score a brace of goals against Sikkim and help Jharkhand romp in to the final of the Under-15 Nike Manchester United Premier Cup at JRD Tata Sports Complex on Friday.
Gopi, who netted two in the state’s tally of three against Sikkim, might be already started giving nightmares to Chandigarh, the state’s opponent in the final, whom they play on Saturday.
Twelve-year-old striker Gopi, who has been leading the state’s show ever since the start of the tourney, opened the account for the state team in the very 2nd minute by successfully receiving and converting a cross from his left. The teen followed up his first strike with a nice tap from inside the box in the 12th minute that found the back of the net.
With Jharkhand leading 2-0 in the second half, the Sikkim team had a lot of catching up to do. However, Tazuddin pumped in a third for the state in the 39th minute to put the match well and truly beyond the reach of Sikkim.
Gopi had also starred for the state during Jharkhand’s tie against Bengal earlier in the day.
The match ended 2-0 in favour of the state with Gopi netting both the goals in the 30th and 37th minutes, to set up a semi-final clash against Sikkim.
“It feels nice to be on the winning side. I am in good nick and things are clicking at the right time,” Gopi later told The Telegraph.
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