Legends take two in nail-biting double header
In the 15th minute, AK Dawlall beat the offside trap and sent Legends into the lead.
On Saturday, Newcastle Legends faced Verulam Masters and Phoenix in a dual clash.
Legends, which is struggling with just two points from six matches, was on the hunt for an extra three points and got off to a flying start.
In the 15th minute, AK Dawlall beat the offside trap and sent Legends into the lead.
Faizal Moola scored next in the 25th minute, from Pranil Kunju’s corner kick, leaving Verulam Masters down but certainly not out.
It pulled one goal back in the 30th minute.
Verulam maintained the pressure well into the second half, and Legends’ management feared their charges were fading away.
This prompted the introduction of Premie Singh and Denis Gounden.
Both players gave Legends the spark it needed, leading to a third goal through Phillip van Blerk, who was a constant thorn in Verulam’s side.
He scored his second goal a short while later.
Moola also claimed two goals, when some neat passing between him and Mushin Nhlapo resulted in a fifth goal to wrap up the game. There was little time to rest before the Phoenix encounter.
Legends knew this would be a tougher match to win, especially considering Phoenix had won its last four matches on the trot.
Luckily, the imposing van Blerk was in top form.
He latched on to a back pass to score, which only spurred Phoenix to mount a furious offensive movement in the midfield.
Newcastle’s FS Ahmed and company were kept hard at work.
Riaaz Khan pulled off some breathtaking saves in the box, but Phoenix’s perseverance paid off with two minutes until the half time break.
In the second half, Legends found itself pinned down.
Vinesh Harripersadh and Kunju were kept busy on the defence, and with five minutes left in the game, Phoenix seemed certain to take the lead.
A perfect tackle by Rajesh Bellama saved the day however.
He booted the ball upfield, with his long pass followed by some great interplay between Moola and van Blerk, then passed on to Ahmed.
He found Dawlall, who blasted the goal into the net.
Legends only had a few minutes in which to defend, and managed to hold on to the lead and savour the sweet taste of victory.
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