Playing their last encounter in Zone A, U Mumba rallied brilliantly to level scores at 32-32 with less than 30 seconds remaining in the match, but a failed tackle gave U P Yoddhas two points and a last gasp 34-32 victory in the 6th Vivo Pro Kabaddi League in Kolkata, here, on Saturday.
U Mumba thus finished their 22 matches with 86 points and in second position and will await the third placed team from Zone B in the play offs.
U Mumba, coming into the match on the back of a 6-match unbeaten streak, started the game on a confident note, scoring the first raid and tackle point to take a 2-0 lead. UP Yoddha’s stabilised after a shaky start to score a few quick points and level scores at 4-4 with 12 minutes to go. U Mumba fought back with the help of Surinder’s back to back super tackles, gaining a 3 point lead over the Yoddha’s at 8-5. In a turn of events UP Yoddhas made a few good tackles and U Mumba were facing a potential all-out. Arjun Deshwal was unable to score in the do-or- die raid and U Mumba were all -out, and 8-11 with 6 minutes to go in the first half. Rishank picked up 2 points, taking out Surinder and Rohit Rana to extend the lead to 5 points. U Mumba fought back, consistently picking up points and levelling the scores at 14-14 with less than a minute to go. Yoddha’s scored one raid and bonus point to lead the game 18-15 at the end of the first half
Yoddha started the second half strong, scoring 2 points with a super tackle. Darshan Kadiyan made a 2 point raid and tackle to inflict an all out and get back in the game at 20-20. It was a neck to neck tie with nothing separating the two teams and the match was tied at 23-23 with 11 minutes to go. Yoddhas made a few successful raids including a 2 point raid by Rishank to race to a 5 point lead at 30-25 with less than 6 minutes to go. U Mumba tried to get back in the lead as the game progressed but UP Yoddhas managed to keep the lead at 31-29 with 3 minutes to go. Just when things were looking difficult, Darshan Kadian came up with a toofani raid to level scores at 32-32. However with less than 30 seconds on the clock and with just two players in the Yoddhas ranks, a failed tackle from Dharmaraj on Prashant Kumar Rai gave two points to Yoddhas and victory at 34-32.
Rohit Baliyan was adjudged the perfect raider