PUNE Gujarat showed why they are top of the table as they fought back strongly to beat Pune 23-22 in the Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 5 final match of the league stage. Mahendra Rajput made a critical raid in the dying seconds to win the match for the Fortunegiants. In a low-scoring affair, Sachin scored seven raid points for Gujarat whereas Sunil Kumar chipped in with seven tackle points. Neither team could inflict an all-out during the match.
Fortunegiants finished the league stage as table toppers with 87 points from 22 matches. Puneri Paltan have 80 points from their 22 matches in zone A.
Gujarat Fortunegiants raced into a 3-1 lead as Sukesh Hegde and Sachin scored raid points. Puneri Paltan leveled the match at 3-3 as Deepak Hooda scored a raid point. Sachin scored two more raid points as Fortunegiants led 5-3 in the fifth minute.
It was a closely contested affair in the first half as both teams continued to trade raid and tackle points. Puneri Paltan raiders were having a quiet game, but their defence kept them in the game. It was a battle between defence and offence, as both teams went into the break tied at 11-11.
The second half was very much like the first as Gujarat Fortunegiants led 16-13 after 25 minutes. Puneri Paltan fought back and tied the match at 16-16 in the 31st minute.
{{/usCountry}}The second half was very much like the first as Gujarat Fortunegiants led 16-13 after 25 minutes. Puneri Paltan fought back and tied the match at 16-16 in the 31st minute.
{{/usCountry}}With less than five minutes to go, both teams were tied at 17-17. Rinku Narwal got a high five for the Paltan. Puneri Paltan edged forward in the 37th minute to lead 19-17. Gujarat Fortunegiants made a super tackle in the 39th minute as they trailed 19-20.
Mahendra Rajput made a successful raid in the 40th minute as Gujarat levelled the match at 20-20. A tackle point gave Gujarat a 21-20 lead in the last minute of the match. Puneri Paltan were awarded a technical point in the dying seconds as they tied it at 21-21. Mahendra Rajput then made a crucial two-point raid right at the end to win the match for the Fortunegiants.