Dominant Air India take Dena Bank to the cleaners with a 4-0 thrashing

by Kaushal Shukla January 9, 2015

Air India completely outclassed Dena bank as they ran out comfortable winners, registering a 4-0 victory in an Elite Division game of the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) at Cooperage on 8th January 2015.

Air India returned to League action after their moment of glory in the RCF Premier Cup last month. But Air India were without their hero and the Player of that Tournament, Vijith Shetty. But that did not matter as Air India took just seven minutes to get in front thanks to Sagar Chile’s calm finish across the Dena Bank goalkeeper Asif Ansari, giving absolutely no chance to make a save.

Air India were very unlucky not to be two goals to the good seven minutes later, when Siddhart Nayak’s clever run was brilliantly picked out by Vishnu T, only for Siddharth Nayak’s effort to come off the post and go straight into the glad hands of the Dena Bank goalkeeper.

Siddharth Nayak was at the end of yet another pass in the 26th minute, this time picked out by a cross from Yogesh rawat who made a stunning overlapping run before that, but Siddharth Nayak failed to divert the effort on goal. The Air India forward should have done better there.

Air India were completely dominating the game as all the play was taking place in the Dena Bank half as the RCF Premier Cup Champions created plenty of chances to score. Despite all the dominance Air India still led by the solitary goal from Sagar Chile in the 7th minute.

Dena Bank won a rare free kick in the 41st minute, left of the Air India penalty area but failed to make it count as Air India cleared, although at the expense of a corner.

Air India launched a quick counter attack from Dena Bank’s corner as goal scorer Sagar Chile did brilliantly to brush off a Dena Bank defender and send the advancing Siddharth Nayak through on goal, who did not make any mistake this time to score past a helpless Asif Ansari as Air India doubled their lead
Ashkar CV nearly put broad daylight between them and their opponents as he failed to keep his first time shot down after he had latched on to a cross from the marauding left back Yogesh Rawat.
The half time arrived with Air India, firmly in sight of the win, while Dena Bank had it all to do to change the current result which was imminent from the early minutes of the half.

Air India continued to pepper the Dena Bank goal in the opening minutes of the second half as Dena Bank struggled to clear the lines, facing wave after wave of Air India attacks.

Ashkar CV of Air India though had a horrible moment in the 50th minute, when he missed an absolute sitter as he thumped his shot over from less than six yards, after being allowed to get at an end of a cross from the right flank totally unmarked.

Nine minutes later, Siddharth Nayak showed great skill to trick the Dena Bank defender to cut back for Vishnu T. who could only manage to fire his shot wide. Siddharth Nayak did brilliantly though to create the opportunity.
Air India brought on forward Mervin Stephen to replace the impressive Siddharth Nayak in the 68th minute. Six minutes later, Air India and Ashkar CV were denied by the crossbar and unfortunately for the Air India No.2, it rebounded outside the goal line.
But Air India got the third just a minute later, with substitute Praveen Sharma beating the offside trap to cooly finish past the Dena Bank goalkeeper. Shortly after the Air India goal, the Dena Bank coach Aazar Ansari got in an argument with the linesman as he was upset with a decision. Despite, several warnings from both the referee and the linesman, the Dena bank coach continued to argue, raising his voice to a totally unacceptable level.

The referee sent the coach off the field as he had to be dragged out of the ground. The frustration of his side’s listless display clearly got to him as he completely lost his cool. It was really sad to see such classless behavior from such a senior member of the Dena Bank setup.

The game resumed with Air India continuing to dominate as they went in search of their fourth goal. They got that fouth goal in the second minute of added time as Ashkar CV finally got in on the act finishing off a cross from the right flank
The referee blew for full time, ending a dismal morning for Dena Bank who were absolutely battered by a dominant Air India side.