Ambernath United Atlanta FC caused a major upset by securing a last-minute victory against ARA FC on their home turf, earning three crucial points and securing a spot in the final round of the Hero I-League 2.
Prior to the final group stage match, Ambernath United Atlanta FC found themselves trailing behind ARA FC by three points. ARA FC took the lead in the 13th minute with a goal from Hijam Lenin Singh, putting them in a favorable position in this crucial match.
However, the tide turned when Himanshu Patil, the captain of Ambernath United Atlanta FC, scored a goal in the 21st minute, equalizing the score at 1-1. The teams entered the halftime break with a level playing field. The entire second half was a tense battle as both sides relentlessly sought the winning goal.
Just as the match seemed destined to end in a 1-1 draw, Shravan Shetty scored a dramatic winner in the 96th minute, stunning the spectators at the Shahibaug Police Ground and propelling Ambernath United Atlanta FC into the final round of the Hero I-League 2. With this victory, both ARA FC and Ambernath United Atlanta FC finished the Group D stage with 17 points. However, since Group B has fewer teams, the results against the fifth-placed teams in other groups would not be taken into account for table rankings. In Group D, FC Goa finished at the bottom, meaning that the four points earned by Ambernath United Atlanta FC and the six points earned by ARA FC against FC Goa would not be considered. Consequently, Ambernath United Atlanta FC topped Group D with 13 points, while ARA FC secured the second position with 11 points.
Under the guidance of Steven Dias, Ambernath United Atlanta FC demonstrated remarkable resilience during the final stretch of the group stage. Despite winning only once in their initial four games, they clinched victory in their subsequent four matches, ultimately securing qualification for the next round.
Ambernath United Atlanta FC has been enjoying a highly successful debut season in the Hero I-League 2, building upon their impressive performances in domestic competitions over the past two seasons. Their achievement in progressing to the final round adds yet another accolade to their growing list of accomplishments.
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