Vanakkam Chennai, here are your champions!

After months of hard work, perseverance and determination, the final eight teams were ready for the fight to claim the City Championship glory. The finals were filled with great goals, comebacks, grit, determination, penalties and everything that we love about the beautiful game!

The College Boys final kick-started the proceedings for the day, which saw Jeppiaar Engineering College slipping to a 2-1 defeat against SRM Institute of Science and Technology despite a battling effort in Nehru Park. SRM Institute of Science and Technology got on the board in the 15th minute, courtesy of a brilliant penalty by Praveen Nagaraj. The game soon became a feisty battle in the 19th minute when both teams had a player sent off, leaving the sides to play the rest of the 90 minutes 10 men. SRM Institute of Science and Technology responded with immense character and courage since going 10 men, with Sathish Kumar pulling SRM Institute level just 9 minutes later. SRM began searching for the go-ahead goal, which arrived three minutes later as C Sathiyamoorthy bagged the winner from the penalty spot, thus completing a heroic comeback to become the champions.

Up next were the Junior Boys of Jeppiaar Matric Higher Secondary School taking on Bhavans Rajaji Vidyashram in the final. Bhavans Rajaji Vidyashram fell through as Jeppiaar Matric Higher Secondary School proved too strong for them. Jeppiaar Matric Higher Secondary School started brightly, maintaining possession with quick fluid passing. Their patient interplay was finally rewarded as Sriram G broke the deadlock in the 9th minute! Just before the interval, Rakesh R doubled the lead for Jeppiaar Matric Higher Secondary School as they headed into the break with a comfortable lead. Second half was no different as Jeppiaar Matric Higher Secondary School started where they left off. 3 quick goals in quick succession from Anthony D (44th minute), Gabriel Lawrson (48th minute) and Rakesh R doubled his tally to seal the title for Jeppiaar Matric Higher Secondary School by a 6-0 win.

NLC Girls Higher Secondary School took the field next against Jawahar Higher Secondary School in the School Girls final. At the Nehru park, the game started with both teams enjoying spells of possession but neither fully able to assert control over the game. With both teams pushing for the goal, the second half offered a lot in terms of action. Both teams defended well but failed to find that incisive pass in attack to split open the defence. At the end of regulation time, the teams were still goalless. After a nervy penalty shootout, where Jawahar HSS missed 3 of their 6 penalties, NLC scored their decisive spot kick to claim the RFYS Chennai City Championship!

In the last fixture of the day, JJ Government Boys Higher Secondary School went head to head against Jeppiaar Matric Higher Secondary School in the Senior Boys final. JJ Government Boys Higher Secondary School took control of the game from the word go and never looked back. After being on top of their game for the opening 45 minutes, Shivasakthi N provided them the much-deserved breakthrough in the 46th minute. In the second half, Shivasakthi N got his brace and doubled JJ Government Boys Higher Secondary School’s advantage through a penalty. With a 2-0 lead, JJ Government Boys Higher Secondary School controlled the pace of the game and closed out the game in a champion’s fashion.

As the RFYS Chennai Championship concludes, the 4 newly crowned champions will now head to the National Qualifiers where they will face off against heavyweights from other cities. Chennai’s Institutes will compete in the National Qualifiers, where they will be aiming to replicate their City Championship success. As evident in the City Championship, Chennai has a strong pool of talent and will be a force to reckon with going ahead in the tournament.

Vanakkam Chennai, here are your champions!