Two goals in each half from Maharashtra State Police helped them overcome Millat Football Club

by Balbir Singh February 23, 2016

The second match on Day 1 of Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) Super Division playoffs action saw group X’s Millat Football Club feature against an arduous and ambitious opposition in Maharashtra State Police at Poinsur Football ground, Kandivli in a 3:00 p.m. kick-off on Monday, 22nd February 2016.

The opening 5 minutes of the first-45 minutes saw M.S Police force Millat F.C towards their own goal, but slight injury struggles early-on to a couple of M.S Police players broke the momentum, giving Millat F.C breathing space. Gaining their momentum back, in the 13th minute, M.S Police were presented with a fine opening to take an early advantage, but lack of communication from the players inside-the-box resulted in a missed opportunity.

Although, it didn’t take Maharashtra State Police away from taking a lead after imposing themselves on their opposition from the onset, and in the 14th minute of the game, Taufeek Sayyad’s perfectly guided free-kick from the right-side of the box met the towering head of Jitesh Pardeshi, whose header flashed past to Anas Ishke’s right-side, giving his side a deserved breakthrough and the former no chance whatsoever.

Soon, after the goal, it seemed evident Millat F.C were playing catch-up as M.S Police tried to strengthen its grip on the game and score a second-goal.

Amongst a host of chances from which M.S Police failed to convert, their best opportunity of the first-half came or was crafted in the 37th minute, when an acute pass from no.6 Bipim Jadhav to no.17 Sumeer Khan set the latter free on goal, but the no.17 could only find his shot hit the wrong side of the net.

The proceedings in the second-45 minutes started-off brightly for Millat F.C as a couple of lapses from M.S Police in their defence area invited early pressure from M.F.C, which the latter failed to get back into the game from. In the 53rd minute, M.S Police were presented with a glorious chance to double their lead, when a darting run down the right-flank and fine cross to the near-post area was somehow missed by Akshay Wadamble and Taufeek Sayyad, who managed to collide amongst themselves in an attempt to get their heads on the ball.

Greater Maharashtra Police doubled their lead in the 57th minute, when no.13 Taufeek Sayyad fed no.10 Himket Dembre with a perfectly weighted pass to set the no.10 through in on a one vs. one, the latter chipped the ball over goalkeeper to score a much needed second-goal.

With a win in their opening group (X) game, Greater Maharashtra Police has taken an important step closer to the book a semifinal berth as it comfortably positions themselves at the top of the group with 3 points.