League Play-Off

Estadio de आलू पराठा
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Kapilan Sheikh took the kick off in the first half of the match. Anandroop Bhardwaj's late challenge caught a SIKKIM AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Anandroop Bhardwaj helped the player get up and apologised. After 3 played minutes Smart Indian got a freekick which was hit by Anandroop Bhardwaj. In the 5th match minute, SIKKIM AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Shripati Chhugani to maneuver through the defense. After 7 minutes of play SIKKIM AFC's Shripati Chhugani was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. In the 8th match minute, SIKKIM AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Shripati Chhugani to maneuver through the defense. Citvata Sailo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kapilan Sheikh, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. In the 12th minute, Jairath Takkar hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 22nd match minute, Smart Indian was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Govindagowda Padda to maneuver through the defense. In the 22nd minute of the match Amitabh Chaddha sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Gurusimran Nigam skillfully saved the ball. Jairath Takkar struck a weak shot in the 25th minute. Gurusimran Nigam didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for SIKKIM AFC. If Kapilan Sheikh had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 30 minutes, Amritaksara Sodhi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the SIKKIM AFC and the Smart Indian players grew even worse after the yellow card. Kapilan Sheikh fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Citvata Sailo having to interfere. A collision led to SIKKIM AFC getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Ajay Shindi hit a great ball. In the 38th minute, Avilasa Jadeja got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 41st minute, Avilasa Jadeja got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Jairath Takkar stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Avilasa Jadeja sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Citvata Sailo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kapilan Sheikh in the 58th minute of play. Avilasa Jadeja recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 59th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to SIKKIM AFC getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Amritaksara Sodhi hit a great ball. Avilasa Jadeja sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to SIKKIM AFC getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Rasgun Nijjar hit a great ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Jairath Takkar in the 73rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gurusimran Nigam prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, Smart Indian's Kapilan Sheikh got a free kick in the 75th minute. Jairath Takkar fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gurusimran Nigam having to interfere. In the 86th minute, Smart Indian's Kapilan Sheikh dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-1. 91 minutes into the match, Jairath Takkar had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Gurusimran Nigam. Smart Indian's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Jairath Takkar was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1.