Golden Eagles book spot in finals of the PHL after a thrilling game that they won on penalties

Jaipur: The second semi-final between Telugu Talons and Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh was won by Uttar Pradesh. They secured the victory after a penalty shoot-out that ended 4-3 in favour of the Golden Eagles as at the end of extra time neither team could be separated with the scores reading 40 all.  

The second Semi-Final between Telugu Talons and the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh was played inside a packed Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur. 

Both teams were looking for a quick start to the game. Omid Reza made a couple of crucial saves to not allow the Talons to take an early lead. While Omid was playing his role brilliantly in goal for the Golden Eagles, Sukhveer Singh Brar and Harjinder Panjeta were leading the charge for Uttar Pradesh in attack. They were attacking extremely effectively and put the Golden Eagles in the lead early on in the game. The Talons came roaring back into the game thanks to Anil Kudia and Naseeb Singh, who levelled the scores. From there on both teams were exchanging blow for blow as they were evenly matched in attack. Kailash Patel was proving to be as effective as ever the Talons looked to establish a lead, however Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde and Makesh Poonia of the Golden Eagles were making sure the Talons were not able to hold on to any lead for very long.  By the 15th minute mark the scores read 7-6 in favour of the Talons.

Everytime Telugu took a slender lead the Golden Eagles found a way to equalise the scores. Fernando Nunes made some tactical tweaks for the last 15 minutes of the half. He brought on Mohit Yadav and Chirag Chandel. This resulted in Davinder Singh Bhullar to come to life as he scored back-to-back goals to help the Talons establish a considerable lead. The Golden Eagles however were showcasing great fighting spirit as Vikas and Harjinder were able to score consistently, not allowing the Talons to establish an insurmountable lead. Anil Khudia, who has been one of the most consistent players in the league, was arguably having his best game of the season. He was putting on a masterful display in attack. Thanks to Anil and Kailash Patel the Talons were able to wrestle control of the game and established a healthy lead. As the half came to close the scores read 16-11 in favour of the Telugu Talons.

The Golden Eagles came out for the second half determined to wrestle back control of the game. Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde , Sukhveer Singh Brar and Vikas Kumar were on-song in the opening minutes of the second period as they brought the scores level and even took the lead for an instant. Kailash Patel and Mohit Kumar also were showing their class in attack as they brought their team back into the game. The match was being played at frantic pace as neither team was able to establish a considerable lead. Two goals back-to-back by the Golden Eagles Captain Vikas Kumar saw them take the lead. Halfway through the second period the scores read 24-22 in favour of Uttar Pradesh.

Kailash Patel who was having a flawless game levelled the scores after he powered his way through the Golden Eagles defence to score two goals consecutively. After the scores were level both teams were neck to neck in attack as they were constantly trading blows as the game was headed for a nerve wrecking final 10 minutes. Davinder Singh Bhullar, Rahul Nain and Kailash Patel helped the Talons take a slender lead , while Joytiram Bhushan Shinde and Naveen Malik pulled the game level again in the dying embers of the game. The last minute of the game was enthralling as a goal by Davinder Singh Bhullar helped the Talons take the lead but a last second penalty for the Golden Eagles was converted by Bhushan Shinde as the scores were level at 35 all at the end of the second period. 

A highly competitive extra time ensued to determine the winner for Semi-Final 2 and the team that will face the Ironmen in the final. Thanks to Vikas the Golden Eagles took the lead early on in the first half of extra time. Omid Reza also made three spectacular saves right at the start of the first half of extra time as the Golden Eagles were holding onto their slender lead. The first period of the second half soon came to end as the scores read 38-36 in favour of the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh had to hold out for another 5 minutes of the second half of extra time to book their spot in the first ever Premier Handball League final. The Talons started the second period of extra time phenomenally as they looked to get back into the game. Rahul Nain of the Talons pulled one back for his team but Bhushan Shinde at the other end extended the Golden Eagles’ lead again. Soon after Rahul Nain and Kailash Patel scored two goals back-to-back as the Talons levelled the scores again. Bhushan Shinde who had been shining light for the Golden Eagles throughout the game, put them back in the lead. Naseeb Singh made sure that the Uttar Pradesh lead did not last long as the scores were level at 40 all going into the last 30 seconds of the game. Even after extra time the two teams could not be separated as the first ever penalty shootout in the PHL beckoned.

The Penalty shoot-out came to end after the scores read 4-3 in favour of the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh, who will clash against the Maharashtra Ironmen in the final.

Kailash Patel and Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde were the top scorers for their respective teams in this encounter with 15 goals apiece. Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde was awarded the most valuable player of the match.

Final Score-Telugu Talons-40 vs  Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh- 40 (A.E.T)

Penalty Shoot-Out- Telugu Talons- 3 vs Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh- 4