PIFA-Colaba U-15 stumbles to a narrow 1-0 defeat versus Mumbai F.C. U-15

by Balbir Singh December 21, 2015

On Sunday night at Cooperage, PIFA-Colaba stumbled to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Mumbai F.C. in the AIFF under-15 i-League Zonal Round – Maharashtra. Mumbai F.C. no.10 Kamran Ansari scored the only goal of the game in the 66^th minute to, which separated the two sides at the full-time whistle. The match had its moments, but goalkeeper were at their very best to deny a handful of really good attempts on goal.

The match started at frantic pace with PIFA-Colaba tested the Mumbai F.C. goalkeeper inside 30-seconds, but the goalkeeper stood strong and parried the ball away with an excellent stop. Both team set-out to attack and the end-to-end football throughout the game added enough entertainment despite the lack of goals in the game.

In the early moments, PIFA-Colaba looked better on the ball as Mumbai F.C. looked in a steady stance to attack every time they had the ball possession. Throughout the match, Mumbai F.C.’s Clivert Demers and Kamran Ansari looked brilliant with their combination play as they unlocked PIFA-Colaba’s midfield and defence on numerous occasions; only to fail to deliver the final product. Both the players came agonizingly close to scoring on occasions, but a poor shot, block and a save denied them to score a goal.

As the game progressed through its half-way point in the first-half, Mumbai F.C. grew into a better attacking-side, fancying their chances particularly down the right-flank. The fact that neither side dominated the game throughout, but in patches meant both teams failed to convert or create any clear chances; adjusting to change in the transition of play from attack to defensive or vice-versa. In the 36^th minute of the first-half Mumbai F.C. fielded another player in midfield, Shreyas Sail came-in and formed 3-man midfield, which gave Clivert Demers the license to surge forward more often. As the half came to a closure, it was clear Mumbai F.C. looked more threatening on the attack with the no.7-no.10 duo working perfectly well according to the gameplan.

Mumbai F.C. started the half on a bright note with no.4 Nikhil Prabhu’s headed shot was clear offthe goalline from a early corner M.F.C. received inside 3 minutes. Mumbai F.C. pressurized PIFA-Colaba midfield and won a number of balls in that area, but couldn’t capitalize on the initial good work. On a similar occasion, this time with no Clivert Demers on the field as he was substituted for an injury he suffered in the 60^th minute, Kamran Ansari took charge and a brilliant solo run through the middle ended-up with the ball into the back of the ended as he calmly slotted it in past the goalkeeper’s right. In a game, which rarely had a teamplay with an appropriate ending, the nature of the goal didn’t surprise, but how it was scored astonished the respectable amount of spectators present in the stadium to witness this excellent solo goal and a complete performance by a striker in Kamran Ansari.

PIFA-Colaba naturally attacked in pursuit of an equalizer, enjoying their best attacking spell of the game, also because the mindset of Mumbai F.C. changed as they tried to protect the lead rather than take a lead. A big reason PIFA-Colaba was ineffective in the attacking areas was that they didn’t win many 1v1 battles against M.F.C. players throughout the match, which ultimately cost them the game.