Champions Air India crush sorry PIFA Colaba

by Kaushal Shukla October 4, 2015

Champions Air India registered their first win of the season as they dismantled a listless PIFA Colaba outfit 7-0 in the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) Elite Division league at Cooperage on Saturday, 3rd October 2015.

Air India had slipped to a 2-2 draw against Western Railways in their opening encounter and needed to win after ONGC had opened up a three point lead over them. A struggling PIFA Colaba side who were stunned by Central Bank of India in their opening fixture proved to be an ideal opponent on the day for the undefeated champions of last season.

Struggling for fitness, a new look PIFA Colaba side struggled from the putset against a hungry Air India team who just needed 12 minutes to open their account through Neil Gaekwad before Ashkar C.V doubled Air India’s advantage in the 33rd minute.

PIFA avoided any further damage and went into the break trailing 2-0 to the champions.

Air India stepped up their game in the second half and netted a third goal just three minutes from the restart as Subhas Chakraborty made it 3-0 with a fine finish. The third goal knocked the stuffing out of the Colaba outfit as they shipped in a fourth goal in the 56th minute when Aaron D’Costa added to Air India’s lead.

Just when PIFA Colaba thought they had managed to stem the flow of Air India’s attacks, Ashkar C.V breached the PIFA Colaba defence once again to get his second and Air India’s fifth goal of the game. Just three minutes later, Air India made it 6-0 when Sunny Thakur got onto the act.

PIFA Colaba’s dismal afternoon was to get worse as they conceded a seventh goal in the 83rd minute as Aaron D’Costa got his brace. The 7-0 win lifted Air India above rivals ONGC on goal difference but remained two points behind early pace setters Indian Navy.

But the manner of the win could well serve as the fuel for Air India to take off this season and go on a long winning run which they are known for.