Clinical Kenkre FC down PIFA Colaba to claim to first win in the U-18 I-League

by Kaushal Shukla November 15, 2015

Kenkre FC were extremely clinical as an early blitz saw them inflict a 3-0 defeat on PIFA Colaba in the Maharashtra Qualifying zone of the U-18 I-League at Mumbai’s Cooperage Stadium on Saturday, 14th November 2015. Kenkre’s Arfat Ansari netted a neat brace in the first half as winger who was played as a striker by Head Coach Akhil Kothari repaid his coach’s faith in him.

Kenkre FC were quick to get out of the blocks and started the game with a very high tempo. Kenkre’s quick start took PIFA Colaba by surprise as they failed to get a foothold in the game early on and were made to pay by some brilliant piece of forward play from Arfat Ansari who fired into the net in the 6th minute to hand Kenkre FC a deserved early lead.

PIFA Colaba who were clearly stunned by the early setback had no time to regroup and get their act together as a rampant Kenkre outfit put them under enormous pressure. In the 17th minute, PIFA Colaba were breached once again as a mesmerising run from Marc D’Souza undid the PIFA Colaba defence allowing Marc D’Souza to cut in on his favourite left foot and send a powerful shot into the back of the net.

However Kenkre, after racing into a two goal lead, took the peddle of the gas a bit and allowed PIFA Colaba to get into the game. PIFA slowly stepped up their pressing game and stopped Kenkre FC from building from the back as Kenkre FC lost their early momentum. But the boys in orange got little joy in breaking down the Kenkre defence as Akhil Kothari’s men held firm.

PIFA Colaba were hit by a sucker punch late in the first half when a beautifully threaded pass from midfield picked out Arfat Ansari’s run as the forward raced clear on goal after shrugging off his marker. Ansari showed great composure in front of goal as he coolly slotted home Kenkre’s third, pretty much against the run of the play in the 39th minute.

Kenkre were in cruise control at half time as PIFA Colaba were made to pay for their errors in the first half.

However PIFA Colaba came out a lot stronger in the second half and started dictating the play. Kenkre were made to sit back into their own half as PIFA Colaba pressed them with great effect. But PIFA lacked the killer pass which was needed to unlock a resolute Kenkre FC defence in the second half despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession.

Kenkre FC’s goalkeeper Anirudh Gandhi wasn’t troubled too much for PIFA’s liking as Kenkre FC almost sneaked in a fourth goal but for some top saves from the PIFA Custodian Rohit Mourya midway in the second half.

Kenkre FC held firm despite PIFA’s relentless pressure before the PIFA players’ shoulders dropped as the game drew to a close. Kenkre were once again in the ascendancy in the dying minutes of the game after PIFA seemed to have given up.

The referee blew for full time, giving Kenkre FC a hugely credible 3-0 win over a pretty good PIFA Colaba side who failed to produce the goods in the attacking third on the day. However Kenkre FC were thoroughly clinical at both ends of the pitch as they secured their first win of the season.