Great Mother SC See Off Wasteful MS Police To Book A Quarter Final Berth In The Nadkarni Cup

by Kaushal Shukla November 28, 2014

Great Mother SC (GMSC) booked a quarter final place in the 108^th RCF Nadkarni Cup after beating Maharashtra State Police (MS Police) 2-1 in an entertaining encounter at the RCF Sports Club ground on 27^th November 2014. The game had plenty of chances for both the sides but in the end, GMSC prevailed.

GMSC were much the better team in the first half and they were at it from the start, earning their first corner in the 5^th minute of the game after great bit of play on the right flank. GMSC had a swagger about their play, though much of it was down to the ineptness in MS Police’s game early on.

GMSC’s superiority was confirmed in the 10^th minute when GMSC’s Clifford Garett’s sublime lob was met by winger Tushar Poojari who drove inside the box to finish superbly from a tight angle to give GMSC the lead in the game they had totally bossed till then.

GMSC had the momentum and they threatened to drive it home when Michael Idewele broke clear of the MS Police defence, but their keeper did well by charging ahead and capitalizing on a loose touch to claim the ball.

MS Police conjured up their first opportunity in the 16^th minute of the game after some neat work on the left flank resulted in a shot which was brilliantly kept out by the GMSC keeper. The chance spurred MS Police on as they enjoyed their best spell of the game for the next 10 minutes as they searched for an equalizer.

GMSC had another opportunity at the half hour mark when striker Michael Idewele made a great run before the keeper made a fine save and stopped GMSC from doubling their advantage. But he had to be on his toes again four minutes later, as GMSC threatened again, when forward Hasan Golwal beat the offside trap only to be denied by Mohsin Khan’s heroics in goal.

Kamlesh Borkar of MS Police got injured and teams used this time to plan their substitutions which came to effect in the 41^st minute. It was a bit strange to see teams going for a change with minutes left for the conclusion of the first half.

Referee blew for half time with GMSC in the ascendency not just in terms of the scoreline but also in the number of chances and quality of play. MS Police threatened in patches but were clearly second best at the interval.

Second half started with a GMSC corner in the 48^th minute but was hit straight at the keeper. Two minutes later MS Police midfielder Taufiq Sayad put in a great cross and the shot from Sandip Badkar was saved by the GMSC keeper. A minute later first half substitute Amjad Khan dribbled his way past the GMSC defense into the box, sending in a teasing low cross in front of the gaping goal but unfortunately for MS Police there was no at the end of it.

MS Police made a strong comeback in the second half and suddenly it was all MS Police as Robin Kujur of GMSC got lucky twice after his weak tackle allowed MS Police’s Swapnil Mane to have a shot which went narrowly wide and later his clearance hit Mohsin Mohammed and the ball rebounded into the hands of the GMSC keeper. A few inches here or there and MS Police would have restored parity.

MS Police had turned the tables and were looking more and more threatening.  MS Police midfielder Taufiq Sayad beautifully laid it off for Amjad Khan who shot over. Amjad Khan was proving to be a master substitution as he was involved in every attack in the MS Police’s second half revival. GMSC tried to stem the flow of the MS Police attacks with chances of their own in the 65^th minute when striker Michael Idewele did well to get on the end of a pass, beat the keeper but could only shoot over.

MS Police brought on Himket Dembre in place of Sandeep Badkar in the 67^th minute and he almost made an instant impact after Azar Shaikh picked up Amjad Khan’s run, who put in another brilliant cross giving the substitute an easy tap in but he failed to control and shot over. This was the best chance for MS Police in the entire game and it was a poor miss from the substitute as GMSC clung on to their slender advantage.

Clifford Garett of GMSC was booked for time wasting but was lucky not to see further action after he jeered the referee after he was booked. GMSC were feeling the pressure as the game approached its closing minutes. With three quarters of the game up, MS Police had yet another opportunity when Mohsin Mohammed missed a free header after substitute Wagly precisely picked out the striker with a fine cross.

MS Police piled on the pressure, resulting in a free kick in a very encouraging position in the 80^th for them. But they totally wasted it as Azar Shaikh over hit it for a goal kick. MS Police were letting opportunities after opportunities pass by as time was quickly running out for them.

Seven minutes later MS Police were punished for their impotency in front of goal as GMSC doubled their lead through Michael Idewele as he cut the keeper to tap in an open goal after he had latched on to Hasan Golwal’s through ball.

As we thought the game was up, MS Police pulled one back after a brilliant move in the box gave Swapnil Mane a tap in and it was game on again as the referee signaled for five minutes of stoppage time. MS Police threw kitchen sink at GMSC but they held their nerve to knock MS Police out of the Nadkarni Cup and book a quarter final berth.

MS Police paid a heavy price for failing to convert a host of opportunities which came their way in the second half as their second half dominance went in vain and a more clinical GMSC prevailed in what was a thrilling game of football.

GMSC face Mumbai Customs in the last eight who, earlier in the day brushed aside Mumbai FC U-19 side 4-0 with a brace from Fransisco Salin and goals from Sajjad Alam and Deepak Irmali.