Premier Handball League 2023: Maharashtra Ironmen book final date with Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh

Rajasthan Patriots and Telugu Talons were the losing finalists.

Maharashtra Ironmen became the first team to book their spot in the finals of the Premier Handball League 2023 as they defeated the Rajasthan Patriots in a game that ended 38-28 in favour of the Ironmen.

Rajasthan were coming into this game as the only team to have defeated the Ironmen in the league phase. Renowned Actor Sharad Kelkar graced the game with his presence as he was sitting in the Rajasthan Patriots owners' box to show his support for the home team.

The Ironmen, on the other hand, were looking for their first win against the Patriots in this crucial game. The Maharashtra Ironmen started the game in blistering form as Igor Chiseliov, Jalal Kiani, Manjeet Kumar, Ankit and Sumit Ghanghas were passing the ball fluidly and constructing attacks patiently. The Maharashtra players were in great touch as they were shooting with devastating effect in the opening minutes of the game. The Ironmen took an early lead. Naveen Deshwal’s heroics in the initial stages of the game saw the Ironmen establish a healthy lead.

Arjun Lakra, Dmitry Kireev and Hardev Singh started finding their finishing touch but were unable to score as consistently as the Ironmen who were rampant in attack that was being led by their captain Chiseliov and Sumit Ghanghas. While saves from Deshwal made sure the Patriots were struggling to find a foothold in the game.

By the 15th mark the Ironmen had established a considerable lead as the scores read 10-7 in their favour. Robin Singh of the Patriots was also ejected from the game in the first quarter for an extremely robust challenge on Mohit Punia after he was shown a direct red card.

The Patriots were determined to find a way back into the game and brought on Happy Singh to do so. Despite the added impetus of Happy Singh the Patriots were still floundering in front of goal. Amrinder Singh and Arjun Lakra injected some energy and provided the Patriots a much-needed edge in attack as they started to find the back of the net a lot more consistently.

However, the Ironmen were putting on a masterclass in attack. They were rampaging forward and scoring efficiently. Igor Chiseliov, Sumit Ghanghas, Ankit and Jalal Kiani were making sure the Ironmen carried on extending their lead. Soon after the half came to an end as the scores 17-14 in favour of the Ironmen.

Although Rajasthan Patriots came out for the second half looking to wrestle control of the game. Amrinder Singh was playing brilliantly for the Patriots in the early stages of the second half and was tasked with the crucial task of man-marking Igor Chiesliov.

In spite of the waning presence of Chiseliov in the opening minutes of the second half the Ironmen were as rampant in attack as ever as Jalal Kinai, Sumit Ghanghas, Ankit and Manjeet Kumar were being afforded too much time and space. They took charge of scoring the goals as they extended the Ironmen’s lead. Halfway through the second period the scores read 27-22 in favour of the Ironmen.

Amrinder Singh and Arjun Lakra were trying their level best for the Patriots to make sure their team stayed within touching distance of the Ironmen. They were not being supported well by the other Patriots players as they were struggling to break down the Ironmen’s defence and score goals regularly. Jalal Kiani and Manjeet Kumar, on the other hand, were continuing to supercharge the Maharashtra Ironmen attack as they were able to extend their lead.

Chiseliov, after being kept relatively quiet in the opening minutes of the half, found a way to shatter Rajasthan’s defence. He was bullying the Rajasthan players as they were struggling to contain him which saw the Ironmen pull further ahead. The Rajasthan players looked deflated in attack while the Maharashtra Ironmen carried on with the same ferocity in attack going into the last 10 minutes. Goals from Kiani, Chiseliov, Ankit and Manjeet Kumar saw the Ironmen establish an unassailable lead.

Soon after the game came to an end as the scores read 38-28 in favour of the Maharashtra Ironmen. They became the first team to secure their spot in the finals, in which they will face the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh.

Igor Chiseliov was the top scorer for the Maharashtra Ironmen in this game with 10 goals and had taken his goal tally for the season to 87 by the end of the game to reclaim the top spot in the scoring charts. Amrinder Singh was the top scorer for the Rajasthan Patriots in this game with seven goals. Igor Chisleiov was adjudged the most valuable player of the match.

 Final Score - Maharashtra Ironmen 38-28 Rajasthan Patriots

Golden Eagles UP edge Telugu Talons on penalties to make final

The second semi-final between Telugu Talons and Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh was won by Uttar Pradesh. They secured the victory after a penalty shoot-out that ended 4-3 in favour of the Golden Eagles as at the end of extra time neither team could be separated with the scores reading 40 all. 

Both teams were looking for a quick start to the game. Omid Reza made a couple of crucial saves to not allow the Talons to take an early lead. While Omid was playing his role brilliantly in goal for the Golden Eagles, Sukhveer Singh Brar and Harjinder Panjeta were leading the charge for Uttar Pradesh in attack. They were attacking extremely effectively and put the Golden Eagles in the lead early on in the game.

The Talons came roaring back into the game thanks to Anil Kudia and Naseeb Singh, who levelled the scores. From there on, both teams were exchanging blow for blow as they were evenly matched in attack. Kailash Patel was proving to be as effective as ever the Talons looked to establish a lead, however Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde and Makesh Poonia of the Golden Eagles were making sure the Talons were not able to hold on to any lead for very long.  By the 15th minute mark, the scores read 7-6 in favour of the Talons.

Every time Telugu took a slender lead, the Golden Eagles found a way to equalise the scores. Fernando Nunes made some tactical tweaks for the last 15 minutes of the half. He brought on Mohit Yadav and Chirag Chandel. This resulted in Davinder Singh Bhullar to come to life as he scored back-to-back goals to help the Talons establish a considerable lead.

The Golden Eagles however were showcasing great fighting spirit as Vikas and Harjinder were able to score consistently, not allowing the Talons to establish an insurmountable lead. Anil Khudia, who has been one of the most consistent players in the league, was arguably having his best game of the season. He was putting on a masterful display in attack. Thanks to Anil and Kailash Patel, the Talons were able to wrestle control of the game and established a healthy lead. As the half came to close the scores read 16-11 in favour of the Telugu Talons.

The Golden Eagles came out for the second half determined to wrestle back control of the game. Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde , Sukhveer Singh Brar and Vikas Kumar were on-song in the opening minutes of the second period as they brought the scores level and even took the lead for an instant. Kailash Patel and Mohit Kumar also were showing their class in attack as they brought their team back into the game.

The match was being played at frantic pace as neither team was able to establish a considerable lead. Two goals back-to-back by the Golden Eagles Captain Vikas Kumar saw them take the lead. Halfway through the second period the scores read 24-22 in favour of Uttar Pradesh.

Kailash Patel, who was having a flawless game, levelled the scores after he powered his way through the Golden Eagles defence to score two goals consecutively. After the scores were level, both teams were neck-to-neck in attack as they were constantly trading blows as the game was headed for a nerve wrecking final 10 minutes. Davinder Singh Bhullar, Rahul Nain and Kailash Patel helped the Talons take a slender lead, while Joytiram Bhushan Shinde and Naveen Malik pulled the game level again in the dying embers of the game.

The last minute of the game was enthralling as a goal by Davinder Singh Bhullar helped the Talons take the lead but a last second penalty for the Golden Eagles was converted by Bhushan Shinde as the scores were level at 35 all at the end of the second period.

A highly competitive extra time ensued to determine the winner for Semi-Final 2 and the team that will face the Ironmen in the final. Thanks to Vikas, the Golden Eagles took the lead early on in the first half of extra time. Omid Reza also made three spectacular saves right at the start of the first half of extra time as the Golden Eagles were holding onto their slender lead. The first period of the second half soon came to end as the scores read 38-36 in favour of the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh had to hold out for another five minutes of the second half of extra time to book their spot in the first ever Premier Handball League final. The Talons started the second period of extra time phenomenally as they looked to get back into the game. Rahul Nain of the Talons pulled one back for his team but Bhushan Shinde at the other end extended the Golden Eagles’ lead again. Soon after Rahul Nain and Kailash Patel scored two goals back-to-back as the Talons levelled the scores again.

Bhushan Shinde, who had been shining light for the Golden Eagles throughout the game, put them back in the lead. Naseeb Singh made sure that the Uttar Pradesh lead did not last long as the scores were level at 40 all going into the last 30 seconds of the game. Even after extra time the two teams could not be separated as the first ever penalty shootout in the PHL beckoned.

The Penalty shoot-out came to end after the scores read 4-3 in favour of the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh, who will clash against the Maharashtra Ironmen in the final.

Kailash Patel and Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde were the top scorers for their respective teams in this encounter with 15 goals apiece. Jyotiram Bhushan Shinde was awarded the most valuable player of the match.

Final Score -Telugu Talons 40-40 Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh (A.E.T)

Penalty Shoot-Out: Telugu Talons 3-4 Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh