Mumbai FC wins the 109th edition of RCF Nadkarni Cup

by Siddharth Yadav November 30, 2015

Mumbai FC triumphed in the 109th edition of RCF Nadkarni Cup Football Tournament 2015-16 after a narrow 1-0 win against Air India at RCF Sports Complex on 30th November, 2015.

Ex Air India’s winger Steven Dias scored on the brink of the first-half which also proved to be the decisive goal. This was the second time Mumbai FC has won the Nadkarni Cup in four years.

Eventhough Mumbai FC dominated the first-half, it was Air India’s goalkeeper Ubaid CK who was the man at the action in the first forty-five minutes.

The goalkeeper stood like a giant wall in front of the goal to deny Mumbai FC for not only once but for more than half a dozen times.

Air India could have got the first blood in the 19th minute when inform Neil Gaikwad headed Mervin Stephen’s cross over the bar.

Ubaid CK came into the action four minutes later. Mumbai’s Cletus Paul tried to beat the inform goalkeeper with his venomous volley from Steven Dias’s cross, but it was saved brilliantly by the Air India’s goalkeeper.

Air India’s defender Wayne Vaz was booked on the 25th minute when he pulled back Mumbai’s Captain Taisuke Matsugae.

Mumbai FC’s new signing Erik Brown, who scored a thunderous left footed goal in the semis tried to repeat his signature move from distance, but his shot somehow sailed over the bar.

It was all Mumbai’s Cletus Paul v/s Air India’s wall Ubaid CK in the first-half.

Ubaid CK, who was already on the mark earlier in the match saved Cletus Paul’s shot again. Taisuke Matsugae rolled the ball towards the number 26 Cletus, whose right footed shot was brilliantly kept out by the Air India goalkeeper.

A minute later on 30th minute, Cletus Paul was once again on the mark for Mumbai FC as he tried to curl his right footed shot into the top corner, but for the third time in less than half an hour Ubaid CK once again denied the lanky striker.

Mumbai FC got ample of chances to open the scoring. The men in yellows got five consecutive corners, but the gritty defense of Air India proved too strong for Mumbai FC.

Air India’s Ubaid CK was finally beaten. In the injury time of first-half, Taisuke tried to lob the inform goalkeeper which was initially saved but felt into Ex Air India’s winger Steven Dias’s path.

The number 23 quickly pounced and slotted his shot into the empty net to give Mumbai FC a deserving lead.

The second-half saw both the teams attacking in full fledge.

Both the teams somehow defended well to avoid leaking any goals. Air India came the closest to score in the second-half though.

Sagar Chile found Aaron D’Costa with a low cross who was unmarked, the latter somehow failed to score in front of the empty net. This was the golden opportunity which could have changed the whole game.

On the 79th minute, Air India’s Raynier Fernandes also came close to score. His left footed shot went way over the bar, giving Mumbai FC a huge relief.

Mumbai FC somehow held their nerves and defended well in the late stages to win the 109th edition of RCF Nadkarni Cup Football Tournament 2015-16.

Player of the Tournament – Air India’s Captain Vijith Shetty (cash prize of 10000 Rs), Losing semi finalists – Kenkre FC and Mumbai Customs (15000 Rs. each), Runners up – Air India (60000 Rs.)

RG Rajan, Chairman and Managing Director of RCF presented the Winners Trophy and a cheque of 1,00,000 Rs. to Mumbai FC’s Captain Taisuke Matsugae.