DSK Shivajians too strong for PIFA Colaba as they maintain their 100 percent start in the U-19 I-League

by Kaushal Shukla January 10, 2015

DSK Shivajians beat PIFA Colaba 3-0 in the Maharashtra Qualifying Zone match of the U-19 I-League to make it five wins out of five in the group.

DSK Shivajians came into this game in red hot form having won all the four games in the groups with an average of four goals per game. PIFA Colaba on the other hand were looking to bounce back from narrow defeat at the hands of Mumbai FC.
It was a fairly even opening period with both teams finding their feet in the game. But on 18 minutes DSK Shivajians struck as Lallianzuala B. Sohtun scored past the PIFA goalkeeper after being cleverly picked out by Mawihmingthang through a threaded through ball.

PIFA nearly responded two minutes later when Pramod Kumar Pandey made a brilliant leap to head goalwards but the DSK goalkeeper was upto the task as he collected neatly. Good goalkeeping from the visiting goalkeeper.

DSK started to push PIFA back with long spells of possession. They nearly scored a perfect goal when Lallianzuala B. Sohtun headed over after a brilliant and patient play from the visitors, with the move consisting of 20-25 passes before the final attempt.

DSK were turning on the style as Biaklian Paite and Chhangte Lalhriatpuia played a brilliant one two to open up the PIFA defence. But they were bailed out by the linesman who flagged for offside in the 29th minute.
Two minutes later, DSK strung together another brilliant move, which resulted in a cross from the right wing falling to Mawihmingthang whose sjot was deflected for a corner.

DSK were building from the back and showed great patience. Mawihmingthang was involved yet again when he was played through on goal but was denied by a brilliant save from the PIFA Colaba goalkeeper in the 31st minute.

Despite all the DSK dominance, they just led by a solitary goal. PIFA seemed to have weathered the storm and were pressing well to deny DSK spaces to play into as the game entered the final ten minutes of the half.

DSK were nearly jolted, as PIFA’s Deepak Mahindra ran into the DSK box totally unmarked and nearly got on the end of a cross from PIFA’s left flank, but for a timely intervention from the DSK goalkeeper Jeddi Haokip.

PIFA seemed to gain confidence from the chance as they started seeing more of the ball. Goal scorer Lallianzula B. Sohtun was booked for a professional foul as he brought down a counter attacking PIFA player who was running into the open spaces in the DSK half due to the visitors throwing players forward for a corner.

DSK’s goal was disallowed in the 44th minute for offside. It was yet another brilliant move from DSK Shivajians as they went into half time a goal to the good.
DSK were dominant team in the first half having controlled most of the play and creating plenty of chances to score, although they were guilty of overcooking the moves at times. PIFA did well to be just a goal behind and showed signs of threat in an absorbing half of football.

DSK struck early in the second half, with a goal in the 48th minute as Lallianzuala B. Sohtun got his second of the evening. It was a brilliant finish from the DSK No.75 as he coolly finished past the PIFA goalkeeper after after latching on to a chipped delivery from midfield.

It was a cruel blow for the home side so early in the half as DSK started to dominate again. Lallianzuala B. Sohtun who was looking for his hat-trick fired a free kick just over the crossbar in the 64th minute.

DSK replaced Biaklian Paite by Joel Fernandes in the 71st minute as the visitors pursued a third goal to kill the contest.
PIFA Colaba nearly pulled a goal back in the 78th minute, only to by a fine save from Jeddi Haokip, as he tipped over a cross which threatened to go in.

PIFA threw Pawan Singh into action in the 83rd minute, looking to reduce the deficit. But all the hopes of a PIFA Colaba revival were ended in the 84th minute when Lallianzuala B. Sohtun completed his hat-trick with a thumping strike from outside the box which flew past the PIFA goalkeeper.
In the 87th minute, Mawihmingthang’s effort took a horrible deflection, but fortunately for the hosts it flew wide of PIFA’s goal.

Mawihmingthang’s effort in the second minute of added time goes inches wide of the PIFA goal as DSK see off the remaining minutes to bag yet another victory in the Maharashtra Qualifying Zone of the U-19 I-League.

PIFA Colaba did well to be competitive against the best team of the group, but fell well short in the end.

DSK Shivajians head coach David Rodgers was happy to leave Cooperage with all three points as he believed his players had won a tough game.” It was a tough game. We played PIFA at home and won quite comfortably, but we always knew coming here would be a different challenge with their home support behind them and it turned out to be that way. But we are delighted we won and we will take it ahead from here”.

DSK Shivajians are top of the charts with five wins in the Maharashtra Qualifying zone of the U-19 I-League.