Air India hammer Income Tax to cruise into the Quarter Finals

by Kaushal Shukla November 20, 2015

Air India were dominant from the first whistle against Income Tax as they thrashed them 7-1 in the first round of the 109th RCF Nadkarni Cup at the RCF Sports Complex on Friday, 20th November 2015. It was a walk in the park for the MDFA Elite Division Champions as they brushed aside Income Tax’s challenge.

After gaining control of the ball possession very early in the game, Air India needed just eight minutes to open the scoring when Ashkar CV finished of a patient move by Air India to put them in front.  Income Tax resisted the dominant Air India side for some time after conceding an early goal, but soon gave way to their pressure allowing Aaron D’Costa to double Air India’s lead in the 27th minute of the game.

The afternoon became more miserable for Income Tax after all their hard work to stay in the game till half time were undone by Neil Gaikwad in the second minute of stoppage time when he was picked out in space inside the box on the right hand side as Gaikwad hammered his shot past the Income Tax goalkeeper.

Air India were in command in the second half too, but crisp move from Income Tax saw Prathamesh Porwal sneak into space behind the Air India defence and lob an effort over the Air India goalkeeper into the back of the net. The minnows celebrated the goal against the Champions of Mumbai with great joy, but were soon given a reality check when Sagar Chile restored Air India’s three goal cushion with a goal just a minute later.

Chile was in again five minutes later to put Air India 5-1 up, before skipper Vijith Shetty got in on the act to add a sixth goal for the Champions of Mumbai. But Air India were not done for the day as Aaron D’Costa scored Air India’s seventh goal in the 80th minute to put them in seventh heaven.

The game was dead as a contest in the first half itself, but Air India refused to take the foot off their peddle and handed Income Tax a 7-1 thrashing. But the Super Division outfit will be glad to bow out of the competition with a goal against their name and especially coming against one of the greatest ever teams in Mumbai in the shape of Air India. Despite the heavy defeat, Income Tax players will relish that moment for some time to come.