FAO XI Lifts Tata-Utkalika Cup

Bhubaneswar: Football Association of Odisha (FAO) XI emerged champions in the 20th Tata-Utkalika Cup Invitation Football Tournament, dethroning defending champions Tata Football Academy (TFA), Jamshedpur in the keenly contested final by 4-2 goals, via tie-breaker here at Unit-VI High School ground on Thursday.

Tie-break rule was applied after play in the regulation time ended in goalless draw. FAO XI converted first four of their five penalty kicks through Sunil Sardar, D Srinath, Kartik Bhola and Rudra Pradhan to clinch victory, which fetched them a cash prize of Rs 25,000. The TFA side, which scored twice in the penalty shoot out through Baset Hansda and Gorachand Marndi, settled with the runners-up prize of Rs 15,000.

FAO XI goalkeeper and local lad Soumya Das, who saved two penalty kicks in the tie-breaker, was adjudged the Player of the Final Match.

The prize for the Player of the Tournament was conferred to Gorachand Marndi of TFA. Sk Kamaluddin of Barabati Sporting and Kartik Bhola of FAO XI received the prizes as the tournament’s best goalkeeper and best defender respectively. The prizes for Best Mid-fielder and Best Forward were bagged by Md Firoz Khan (TFA) and Bijay Behera (FAO XI) respectively.

Odisha SC & ST Development Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi graced the closing function as chief guest.