By R. Elahi
Srinagar- Downtown Heroes FC entered the Play-Off round of the 2024-25 I-League 3 season on Wednesday after drawing 2-2 against Southern Sporting Union at TRC Stadium here. The draw meant the hosts have now finished second in their group and qualified for the next round of the league, which is the fourth tier of professional football in India.
The matchup proved a challenge for the Heroes who were 1-0 up at half time, thanks to a 14th-minute goal by Mohammed Riyas A. Downtown went 2-0 up in the 52nd minute through Thingnam Radhakanta Singh. However, Southern Sporting sparked an incredible comeback and scored two goals in four minutes to level the proceedings and give the host team a hard fight till till the very end.
Golmei Apu Kabui made it 2-1 for SSU in the 75th minute, before Laishram Roshan Singh made it 2-2 in the 79th.
However, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat-coached Downtown Heroes hung on to secure a draw and a second placed finish in Group E. Heroes right back Abid Dar was named player of the match.
The team completed their four matches with seven points, winning two, drawing one and losing one while scoring 10 goals and conceding five. All Group E matches were played at Srinagar’s TRC Stadium.
In contrast, group leaders Abbas Union Football Club from Hyderabad took nine points from their four games in Srinagar, winning three and losing one. They scored four goals and conceded two. Abbas Union, finishing top of the group, will also enter the Play-Off round of the competition.
The play-off round will have the top two teams from the five groups separated into League A and League B of five teams each. The top two teams, four in total, from the these groups will be promoted to I-League 2 for the 2024-25 season.
Downtown Heroes Playing XI: 26 Nirdosh, 2 Abid, 4 Zahid, 5 Musaib, 6 Arun, 20 Abdul, 10 Lalramzauva, 31 Mohammed, 8 Imad, 16 Sahil, 19 Thingnam
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