Pro Kabaddi: Home favourites Mumbai beat Bengaluru to set up final against Jaipur
29th August 2014, Mumbai: Home favourites UMumba are the second team to join the fight for the coveted silverware – the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi Tropy 2014, defeating the Bengaluru Bulls by a minimal 4 points.
With one match in hand, U Mumba were the second on the semi-finalists podium, thanks to their powerful performances in the opening leg of the league where The Bulls were the last to qualify, doing so in the last match of the league stage. However, their order of qualification did not matter as the second semi-final of the night seemed a lot more even, with both teams fighting hard for their spot in the final, scores at the end of 40 minutes at 27-24.
U Mumba led through most of the game with the Bulls attaining a lead for a very few minutes in the first half of the game and losing it again when Bengaluru skipper was sent packing by all-rounder Rishank Devadiga.The ouster, which much needed break-through for the Mumbai boys, was followed up with Rajesh Mondal’s exit and two points as Rishank escaped Bengaluru’s four-man defence.
Even Ajay Thakur’s heroics could not help the Bulls as they gifted Mumbai the first LONA points of the match in the 12th minute. With a seven-point lead and an insatiable hunger for points U Mumba scored their thirteenth point, leaving Bengaluru high and dry towards the end of the first half. With seconds to go for the break Mumbai’s best raider and the top raider amongst the finalists, Anup Kumar did what he did best, taking the score to 15-9 by half-time.
The second half began with Rishank walking out reducing the Mumbai team to three. Despite the stacking odds towards an all-out, Bengaluru’s star Raider, Ajay was captured by Anup Kumar and Mohit Chillar in the 34th minute, allowing them a chance at redemption. Mohit’s brilliance as a defender shone through as he executed the perfect tackles against Manjit and Ajay Thakur.
Mumbai’s best defender, Surender Nada also joined the party, single-handedly sending the Bull’s captain back. Re-introduced for the second time in the 33rd minute, Mumbai’s Pawan Kumar failed yet again, reducing the Orange brigade to four. After denying Bengaluru Bulls LONA points for a long time Mumbai gave in, conceding their first LONA in the 37th minute. Though it offered two vital points to Bengaluru, it was a little too late as the Bulls were tamed 27-23.