Anil Pawar’s late strike sends Kalakaar Indians into the CSL Final

Kalakaar Indians edged out Naaz United 1-0 thanks to a late Anil Pawar strike in the second Qualifier of the Colaba Super League at the Back Gardens Ground in Colaba on Wednesday, 10th June 2015.
With a place in the final at stake, the first half was a cagey affair with both teams feeding on scraps. There was little goal mouth action in the first half which ended goalless.
The second half was a lot more open than the first and Naaz United’s Karim Shaikh almost found the net with a looping header which went just over in the crossbar in the 40th minute.
Two minutes later, Rashid Shaikh struck a free kick sweetly and needed strong fist from the Kalakaar Indians goalkeeper to punch it away from goal.
At the other end, Roger Sam’s shot after cutting inside on his right sailed inches wide of the left hand side post in the 51st minute.
But Kalakaar Indians finally made the breakthrough in the 56th minute, when Anil Pawar bundled home from close range after the Naaz United goalkeeper could only parry the ball in his path after Roger Sam’s strike was deflected goal wards by Walter Liu.
The goal sent the men in red in ecstasy as they were in touching distance of the grand finale.
Kalakaar Indians resisted a late, desperate onslaught from Naaz United to hold on to a massive win and book a date with Brainy World in Friday’s Final.
It was play-offs agony for Naaz United who crashed out of the competition despite topping the table after the League stage. Karim Shaikh’s injury was a blow for Naaz United in the closing stages as he limped gingerly on the field as Kalakaar Indians stole the honors in the game.
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