English for Students

Watching A Football Match

Watching A Football Match :




Watching A Football Match is different experience. The other day I witnessed a football match between The Presidency College Team and The Loyola College Team. A large number of spectators had assembled to see the match even though admission was by tickets. Indeed. The stands were packed to capacity by spectators who included students of local schools and colleges, businessmen, shop-keepers and others. A lot of enthusiasm was discernible among the vast assemblage of football fans, especially because this match was an annual event. For three successive years, since this nasal event was instituted, The Presidency Team has retained their supremacy and they fought successfully to retain the championship this time also, though this time the struggle was harder and fiercer than on previous occasions.


The captain of The Presidency Team, Prakash Raj, could not have had a better day than he had on this occasion. He gave his team the inspirations it needed with an early goal. He indeed showed some neat touches and intelligent positioning and kept racing the fields like players at the height of his football career. He received the close support from ARUM KUMAR with whom he moved with elegant grace and impressed with speed. The young and hard trying inner trio of the Loyola Eleven moved threateningly in the open spaces, but the efforts on these goal-hungry forwards were thwarted by the Presidency Boys.


From the kick-off the defense of the Loyola Eleven faced a furious onslaught, which earned The Presidency Boys Team three corners all of which spell danger. The breakdown came in the eighth minute when Ashok outside-right player of the Presidency, raced downfield in a beautiful solo run, bearing down on Loyola goals. Ashok lifted a glorious diagonal pass across the stretched defense and the ball arched down to Ram Kumar whose header stuck the bar. As the ball came back from the rebound Prakash Raj netted past the goal-keeper amid thunderous cheers. All the spectators enjoyed Watching A Football Match.


The Loyola Eleven had no answer to a number of speedy thrusts by The Presidency Team till the 14th minute when Raman’s break-through was cut short by Govind of Presidency who conceded a corner. Then with dramatic suddenness the Loyola stuck in the 19th minute. It was a cannon-ball drive which brought a gasp of wonder from the crowd and the score was even. The Presidency Eleven shaken to the core spent the few remaining minutes of the first half in a futile bid to regain the lead.


After the interval, the Loyola team attacked relentlessly and with telling effect on the rival defense. Goalkeeper Kuna frustrated their first attempt with a diving save off a short by Jahan following a nasty comer. Then a first-time shot by Vikram form a center went straight into Kuna’s hands. The Loyola team was resisting stubbornly, but their resistance could not continue to be effective very long. A free-kick by Rohan took play inside their penalty area and after a spell of defensive foundering the ball glanced off the foot of Rohan to Visas who shot it straight home taking a lead. I enjoyed Watching A Football Match.


As The Presidency Eleven’s attack increased in fury, the Loyola Citadel seemed in danger of collapsing. The Presidency missed a good chance when Rena ballooned a back-pass from Prem Lal with Shyam coming up to help his forwards, a vacant space was left in The Loyola defense and this was skillfully exploited by Dilawar Singh in the 12th minute. The crowd buzzed with excitement as Shyam swerved past a defender and then another to push the ball to his right and Shamsher, fastening on to it, lashed a right-foot drive into the corner of the net.


The last resistance of the Loyola team was thus broken. They had certainly put up a gallant fight, but the championship had to remain with the holders. The acclamations of the crowd cannot be described. There was wild cheering.