PIFA Colaba’s staggering second half show humbles Steadfast Rush FC

by Kaushal Shukla November 9, 2015

PIFA Colaba ran riot in the second half as they came from behind to beat Steadfast Rush 8-1 in the Maharashtra zone of the U-15 Youth League at Cooperage on Sunday evening.

PIFA were slow to get into the game but were unfortunate not to take the lead in the 18th minute when Ranjan Tamang’s cross came off the crossbar.

But just a minute later, and pretty muxh against the run of play Steadfast took the lead after some clever play from Amit Verma inside the box as he picked out Shugtank Hasal’s run who forced a brilliant save from the PIFA goalkeeper. However the loose ball fell kindly for Pratik Swami who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

PIFA who looked slightly rattled after conceding the goal, came close grabbing the equalizer when Aniket Panchal’s sweetly struck half volley flew just over the target.

Steadfast dropped deeper and deeper into their own half as the half progressed as PIFA bossed the possession, but lacked ideas upfront going forward which enabled a packed Steadfast dedence to see through the lead till half time.

It was a similar story for Steadfast in the second half as they sat very deep in their own area, but PIFA who seemed fired up after coach Nirvan Shah’s half time team talk launched a rally at the Steadfast goal.

The pressure eventually gave way but not without a goalkeeping erroras the Steadfast goalkeeper who had a troubled afternoon, failed to hold on to a long range effort from Akash Jadhav as the ball bounced into the net to pull PIFA level just four minutes into the second half.

The Steadfast goalkeeper though wasn’t helped by his backline who dropped so deep into the box whixh gave Jadhav the space to size his shot. In all fairness the goalkeeper was also blinded by a Steadfast defender who tried to clear the shot, leaving him in two minds.

The goal however proved to be the perfect tonic for PIFA who suddenly found the sharpness in attack which was missing in the first half.

PIFA turned the game around in the 52nd minute, when a beautiful through ball saw Sahil More race clear into the space on the right side, before the winger sent a low shot past the goalkeeper to put PIFA 2-1 up.

PIFA’s comeback completely knocked Steadfast off their guard as the PIFA’s rampant forward line tore into a jaded Steadfast defence. Siddharth Yewale added a third goal with a brilliant strike which flew into the top corner in the 57th minute.

Nine minutes later Siddharth Yewale once again got in on the act as he once again showed his goal scoring instincts with a finish from close range.

PIFA’s youngsters were enjoying themselves against a Steadfast outfit who didn’t know what had hit them and shipped in a fifth goal in the 77th minute as substitute Rohin Modi slammed home a brilliant long ranger.

It was to get better for PIFA as Aniket Panchal capped off a beautiful move with a truly sublime right footed curler which nestled the top corner as PIFA raced into a 6-1 lead.

PIFA were relentless and ruthless in front of goal as they refused to take the foot of the pedal and added a seventh in the 86th minute through Prasheel Dhavre who coolly slotted home for PIFA’s seventh goal.

Deep in stoppage time, Sahil More who put PIFA in front in the game scored the eight goal for PIFA Colaba to make it a full time score of 8-1 in PIFA’s favour.

PIFA Colaba produced one of the finest second half displays which left a solid looking Steadfast team in the first half, a shabby outfit in the second.