PKL: Pardeep Narwal shines as UP Yoddha beat Puneri Paltan to clinch semi-final berth

U.P.
Yoddha
made
an
incredible
comeback
to
win
the
crucial
encounter
after
trailing
by
8
points
in
the
early
minutes
of
the
first
half.
Pardeep
Narwal
was
ably
supported
by
Yoddha’s
much-famed
corner
combination
of
Nitesh
Kumar
(3
points)
and
Sumit
(5
points).

Aslam
Inamdar
scored
a
Super
10
for
Puneri
Paltan
but
they
lacked
the
usual
raiding
power
to
trouble
the
in-form
U.P.
defence.

Pune
raced
to
a
5-0
lead
in
the
initial
minutes
with
the
raiding
duo
of
Aslam
Inamdar
and
Mohit
Goyat
taking
control
of
the
mat.
Mohit
was
also
good
in
the
defence,
contributing
in
tackles
from
the
IN
positions,
as
Pune
dominated
the
proceedings.
He
helped
Paltan
inflict
the
first
ALL
OUT
of
the
match
in
the
7th
minute
with
a
4-point
raid.

That
gave
Pune
an
8-point
advantage,
but
Yoddha
immediately
staged
a
comeback
with
Surender
Gill
leading
the
way.
The
star
raider
picked
up
3
quick
points
while
the
defence
tightened
to
help
Yoddha
clinch
an
ALL
OUT
in
the
13th
minute.
That
levelled
the
scores
at
10-10.

Pardeep
Narwal
then
completely
changed
the
complexion
of
the
game
with
a
stunning
5-point
Super
Raid.
U.P.
Yoddha
took
a
lead
for
the
first
time
in
the
match
and
Pune
could
not
stop
another
ALL
OUT
in
the
final
minute
before
the
interval
despite
a
Super
Tackle
by
substitute
Hadi
Tajik.

The
Iranian
picked
up
a
yellow
card
in
the
process
(2-minute
penalty)
and
Pune
had
to
play
with
a
man
disadvantage.
The
ALL
OUT
wasn’t
the
last
action
in
the
first
half
however
with
Pardeep
Narwal
picking
a
3-point
Super
Raid
to
give
Yoddha
an
8-point
lead
(25-17).
The
“record
breaker”
clinched
his
Super
10
in
the
process.

The
“Pardeep
Show”
had
no
plans
of
stopping
in
the
second
half.
He
picked
another
3-point
Super
Raid
as
Yoddha
raced
to
a
big
lead.
Nitesh
Kumar
and
Sumit
also
contributed
from
the
defence
as
they
secured
another
ALL
OUT
in
the
6th
minute
after
the
restart
to
make
the
scores
33-21.
The
Pune
defence,
especially
their
right
corner
Sombir,
continued
to
struggle
against
Pardeep’s
quick
feet
on
the
mat.
Pune’s
Aslam
Inamdar
picked
up
a
Super
10
but
he
was
relying
mostly
on
Bonus
Points.

Pune’s
coach
was
calmness
personified
Anup
Kumar
in
the
stands
and
introduced
Akash
Shinde
to
bolster
the
raiding
department.
He
picked
up
five
important
points
but
U.P.
continued
to
dominate
with
their
defenders
looking
sharp.
With
5
minutes
remaining,
Yoddha
had
a
9-point
lead.

Sumit
picked
his
High
5
with
4
minutes
remaining
as
Yoddha
looked
in
complete
control
of
the
match.
Pardeep
and
Surender
Gill
took
turns
to
slow
down
the
speed
of
the
raids
in
the
final
minutes
as
Pune
conceded
the
defeat.
Yoddha’s
win
secured
them
a
place
in
the
semifinals
where
they
will
play
league
table-toppers
Patna
Pirates
on
Wednesday
(23
February).

Source:
PKL
Media