05th October 2005

UK Asian Football Championships - Results

The eights teams invited to compete from across the UK were drawn into two groups of four. (The draw was made at half-time, on the pitch, during the Celtic v Inverness Caley Thistle game on Saturday 24th September.) The three round robin games were split over two days. One being played on Friday evening and two on Saturday. The winner of each group commenced to Sundays final at Celtic Park.

The results of the round robin games were:

Scores

Group A

Group B

Tables

Group A

Group B

* Albion Sports qualified due to Goals scored.

The Final

Attendance 2,700 (more than Inter Milan v Rangers)

The final was won by Albion Sports on a dramatic penalty shoot out. After a tremendous fight back by Hounslow FC, who went behind after an early goal by Albion Sports striker Narinder Sandhu. Sandhu scored after a mix up in the Hounslow defence, he showed fantastic instinct by latching onto a loose ball and slotting it past the keeper. 1 - 0, making Sandhu the top goal scorer of the tournament with six goals. Hounslow showed remarkable stamina and determination in taking the game to the defending champions, and previous winners if the trophy on three occasions.

Hounslow played the better football, their build up play was excellent but lacked the finishing touch up front. With an experienced defence Albion were able to thwart their opponents and when Hounslow did break through the keeper came to their aid with some tremendous acrobatic saves.

Albion were hanging on especially in the second half when they lost their inspirational captain to a shoulder injury and were creating nothing upfront, it was one way traffic.

It seemed as if Hounslow were never going to break through, but a sublime piece of skill by the left winger who beat two players as if they were grannies waving goodbye to their grandchildren and bearing down on goal, was brought down in the box with the clock showing the 2nd minute of injury time. The Hounslow captain coolly stepped up and slotted the ball in the top right hand corner. 1 - 1.

There was more drama to come as in the very dying seconds Hounslow almost won with a looping shot from the corner of the eighteen-yard box that hit the post and bounced to safety.

Full - time.

Due to the previous rounds the match went straight into a penalty shoot out. After taking 5 spot kicks each Albion Sports retained thier trophy and their Manager Kully Sandhu stated that "the better team had lost " and that his " team didn't play at all and were lucky to win."

Hounslow's manager Nilesh Gosai was proud of his team stating, "I could not have asked any more from my players they were fantastic out there. They responded by that early set back with a mature performance. It hurts but we will be back."

Indeed, so will the Championships.

UKAC Top Goal scorer

Narinder Singh Sandhu (Albion Sports) - 6 goals

UKAC Player of the Tournament

Muktar Singh Khella (Hounslow FC)

Report by Taja Sidhu

More information and a background to the UKAC is available.