Dominant DSK Shivajians edge past stubborn Mumbai FC

by Kaushal Shukla November 22, 2015

DSK Shivajians hobbled to a 1-0 win over Mumbai FC in a Maharashtra Qualifying zone match of the U-18 I-League at Cooperage on Sunday evening. A 14th minute goal from Gagandeep Singh proved decisive as Dave Rogers boys bagged the three points.

Head Coach Alex Ambrose was back in the dugout for Mumbai FC after the former Indian player was allowed to get back to Mumbai FC by Mumbai City FC.

Ambrose’s presence seemed to have had the desired effect on Mumbai FC who were battered 10-0 in their last game by Pune FC as Mumbai FC maintained a good defensive shape in the opening ten minutes and denied DSK any space to work their magic.

But the hosts switched off for a split second, allowing the DSK midfielder Marchstarfield to thread a beautiful pass through to winger Gagandeep Singh who kept his composure to go round the goalkeeper and tap home the finish in the 14th minute.

The visitors buoyed by the early goal threatened to run riot but Mumbai FC hung on thanks to some good goalkeeping from their goalkeeper Ubaid Ali.

Mumbai FC thought they had restored parity in the 34th minute when Rabiul Shaikh had put the ball in the back of the DSK net getting on the end of a freekick. But the linesman raised his flag for a handball by Shaikh resulting in the referee ruling the goal out.

Mumbai FC who struggled to build up attacks in the opening half hour got into the game aa the first half drew to a close, but had no joy in front of a strong DSK rearguard.

DSK went into the break with the slender lead but had little problems to deal with defensively.

The game had a similar pattern in the second half as DSK pressed for a second goal as the hosts seemed content with absorbing the pressure.

Mumbai FC were a lot more organised in the second half and almost created a goal out of nothing when Rabiul Shaikh raced clear on the left hand side to get into the box but fired his attempt into the side netting ten minutes into the second half.

In the 66th minute, Mumbai FC were extremely unlucky not to have equalized when a cracking third yard strike from Rohan Shukla came off the crossbar.

There was however no respite for Mumbai FC as DSK continued to come hard at them and Mumbai FC had to put it last ditch tackles to prevent DSK from doubling the score.

DSK started to find spaces in an otherwise solid Mumbai FC defence in the final ten minutes and DSK’s Suhail Sayed fired just wide of the target.

Mumbai FC were encouraged when the fourth official signalled eight minutes of stoppage time, but Dave Roger’s men never really surrendered the control of the game and wrapped up the three points.

Mumbai FC however delivered a highly improved performance after their horror show against Pune FC and gave themselves a reason to hold their heads high.