U Mumba suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Bengal Warriors in match 47 of Pro Kabaddi League season 4. The visitors beat the men in orange 31-27 to severely dent Anup Kumar and his team’s hope of making it to the semi-finals.
The games were coming in thick and fast. Home team, U Mumba had no respite as they continued in their quest for a semi-final spot. They were up against the whipping boys of Pro Kabaddi season 4, Bengal Warriors. A team that’s managed just two wins in ten matches this season.
Rakesh Kumar opened the scoring with an extended hand touch. He cartwheeled his way on to his half as the capacity crowd chanted his name. This truly felt like a home match. Even poster boy, Jang Kun Lee received a lukewarm response from the fans.
New boy Suresu was used a lot by Mumba. But he found it difficult early on to make an impact. The home team didn’t race to a lead as expected. The Warriors didn’t crumble in what felt like a colosseum-like atmosphere. The score read 5-5 after eight minutes.
Bengal worked as a team. Raiders, Nitin Madane and Monu Goyat kept the home team on their heels. Former U Mumba man, Vishal Mane was pumped for the occasion. He went head on with every single raider in orange.
Anup and company found it frustrating as they failed to impose themselves on the match. Every time they picked up a point, the visitors returned with a tackle or a raid of their own. The Warriors ended the half on a high.
Jang Kun lee first picked up a point and Anup Kumar was then tackled to reduce the home side to just three men. Bengal went into the second half taking a surprise two-point lead.
HT- U Mumba 9 – Bengal Warriors 11
Bengal began the second half on the front foot. Monu Goyat took out Surjeet to reduce the home side to two. Jang Kun Lee then inflicted the first all out of the match, leaving the home stunned. The Warriors led 16-10 after twenty-four minutes.
Anup Kumar helped Mumbai make a mini comeback scoring two quick raid points. But Bengal continued to frustrate the home side with some focused tackles and clever raids. The visitors were playing without pressure and it showed. Rakesh Kumar cut a frustrating figure on the mat.
Rakesh was then tackled and suddenly U Mumba were in danger of another all out. The men in orange just couldn’t deal with the Bengal defence. Having played three games on the trot, tiredness looked to have kicked in the home side. They suffered another all out and were now trailing the Warriors by a massive 11 points.
The Bengal onslaught continued as an eerie silence engulfed the NSCI stadium. U Mumba kept making petulant errors, gifting the home side needless points. They were again down to three men. Coach, Bhaskaran looked in disbelief.
Three minutes remaining and Bengal led 30-17. Rishank attempted a comeback but it was just too late. The Warriors left Mumbai city all smiles as they registered just their third victory of the season. Pune’s crunch match against Patna on the 23rd will decide the fate of quite a few teams.
FT- U Mumba 27 – Bengal Warriors 31
