While earning a place in top-20 football clubs of India for participation in Durand Cup Football, J&K Bank played its opener yesterday in the tournament against a stronger Forces team, BSF Jallandhur in the qualifying round of 124th edition of much prestigious football event at Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Stadium New Delhi.
Although the final result of the match went against by 3-5 in tie-breaker, the team won all round praise for a superb display of football in a nail-bite 1-1 draw in stipulated period. "Playing with 4-4-2 formation, JK Bank team was playing more better than what we have seen them last year in this level of competition" says, Rakesh Podewalla, a member of Durand Cup Managing Body.
During goalless 45-minute fist half, the two teams showed aggression and superb ball-play. In the 75th minute, Bank midfielder Zubair converted a sneaky pass from striker Ibrahim to give his team 1-0 lead, but ten minutes later equalizer came when Bank's goalkeeper Tanveer misjudged a header from BSF striker.
In the penalty shootout Bilal Ahmad, Rizwan Sheikh and Ibraheem scored, while Khalid and John missed the open shots for the Bank. BSF Jallandhar scored on all the five kicks to end the match in its favour by 5-3.
Worthwhile that the Durand Cup is most historical football tournament treated world's third oldest after the English and the Scottish FA Cup, besides being the Asia's oldest football Cup tournament. The tournament is being played under the aegis of AIFF in which country's top level football clubs are participating every year and only two teams from top twenty clubs of India qualify for final round of eight.