Subrata Pal (born 24 December 1986), often known as Subrata Paul,is an Indian soccer player, currently the goalkeeper of India national football team and Pune FC. He has previously played with the Tata Football Academy club, but rose to prominence with the leading Kolkata-based football club Mohun Bagan AC. In August 2007, he was part of the Indian team that unexpectedly won the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament 2007 for the first time. Subrata has played for India at all age groups. He rose to prominence with the Under-23 team in the Pre-Olympic qualifiers where he pulled off 3 saves in a crucial penalty shootout against Myanmar hence enabling India to qualify for the Group stage.In the group stages his goalkeeping abilities helped India pull off an unexpected draw at home against the formidable Iraq. In 2007 he replaced Sandip Nandy as the Indian Senior Team's number 1 for the Nehru Cup in 2007 where he was adjudged the best goalkeeper in a competitive field which included the likes of Mosab Balhous. [edit]Nehru Cup 2007 Pal was noted for his sharp goalkeeping as part of Baichung Bhutia's successful Indian team of the Nehru Cup 2007. His saves were noted in the semifinals against Kyrgyzstan,[5] which enabled India to reach the finals of this tournament for the first time. In the final, India faced Syria, against whom they had lost an earlier group stage match[6]. In this match, he together with Mahesh Gawli of Goa and other defenders, staved off wave after wave of attack by the pre-match favourites, Syria.[7] India defeated Syria by a 1-0 margin to win the tournament for the first time. Indian team coach Bob Houghton said that "Subrata Pal was splendid in the goal"[7], while The Hindu wrote: India owed the triumph immensely to an impeccable performance under the bar by Subrata Paul. His anticipation in cutting off Syria痴 aerial forays was the most striking feature of the contest.[8] [edit]AFC Challenge Cup 2008 He was part of the victorious Indian National team in the AFC Challenge Cup 2008. His important saves especially in the finals helped India qualify for the AFC Asian cup 2011 for the first time in 24 years. [edit]Nehru Cup 09 He was also part of the victorious Indian National team in the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament 2009 He saved three spectacular saves, and put the Cup back in India's hands. Due to his keeping, India won the final match 5-4.
