After a 40-minute-long tussle between UP Yoddha and U Mumba, the former finally became the second team to qualify for the playoffs this season.
It was a very tight match indeed. Both the teams came to the court with different ambitions in mind.
On the one hand, we had UP with a clear objective. A win would have sent them directly to the playoffs. It was not so simple for U Mumba, though, as even a win would only mean survival for them.
Still, Kabaddi is a very competitive game, and neither team was willing to let go until the final second of the match.
The game started with a bang when Pradip Narwal made a super raid in the early moments of the match.
Everyone thought that finally they would get to see the old Pradeep, who played fearlessly in the green jersey of Patna Pirates. It was not to be, though, as the raider soon was hoofed off his feet in a tackle and sent to the bench.
Neither UP Yoddha nor U Mumba could take control of the game
Following this tackle, things rapidly turned from offensive to defensive in no time. Both the team started relying on their defense, and it also paid off.
UP was leading the game at the stroke of halftime but only by a meager margin.
Just like it’s been witnessed so many times in Kabaddi, things took a dramatic turn once again. U Mumba, out of nowhere, inflicted an all-out on UP. Their raider Ajith Kumar and defenders like Fazal picked up crucial points to bring their team back in the game.
It was just not Mumba’s day, though, as they made silly mistakes at the backside of the game. From leading 27-25 with 2 minutes to go, they lost the game 35-28.
Yes, it was great defense and raiding on UP’s part. They outplayed Mumbai, but carelessness also cost Mumba the game.
Surendra Gill was the game-changer for UP like he has been for so many matches. He picked up 8 points in the raid. At the same time, Pradeep Narwal could only manage 5 points in total.
Currently, UP is second on the points table with 68 points. It can change in the future though, considering that they have played their final league game.
The Yoddhas will be happy to see the qualified tag against their name at the moment.
