Rampant Mumbai FC book Quarter Final date with Indian Navy

by Kaushal Shukla November 23, 2015

Mumbai FC were ruthless as they crushed Mumbai Warriors 9-1 in the first round of the 109th Nadkarni Cup at the the RCF Sports Complex to set up a tasty quarter final clash with Indian Navy.

The tone of the game was set early when Mumbai FC got control of the ball and pegged Mumbai Warriors deep into their own box.

However the Super Division outfit did extremely well to resist the Mumbai FC pressure and stopped them from creating the chances.

Mumbai FC’s striker Sandesh Gadkari had a great chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute, when he escaped from his marker to get on the end of a long ball but his finish past the goalkeeper went just wide.

Ten minutes later Mumbai FC were in once again when the Mumbai Warriors goalkeeper Vihang had to step out of his box to head away a through ball which fell kindly for new signing N.P. Pradeep who made space for a shot at the empty goal but could only strike the upright with his attempt. The rebound fell right in Cletus Paul’s path who struck a powerful shot on goal from point blank range but was miraculously kept out by the Warriors’ goalkeeper from Vihang.

Cletus made up for his miss in the 30th minute when he controlled a brilliant backward header from Eric Brown from a N.P. Pradeep cross and fired it into the bottom corner to put Mumbai FC on their way.

The floodgates opened after Mumbai FC’s first goal and it took them just five minutes to double their lead. Left back Thiyam did well to get to the goal line and dig a cross which just evaded Taisuke and Gadkari in the box, but Steven Dias was in place to slot home.

In the 38th minute, N.P Pradeep rose the highest from an Eric Brown corner to head home Mumbai FC’s third before Sandesh Gadkari’s header made it 4-0 in Mumbai FC’s favour.

Steven Dias then completed his brace in the final minute of the half to make it a half time score of 5-0 in Mumbai FC’s favour.

The Warriors after a battling half an hour collapsed in the final fifteen minutes of the half as that meant the Warriors left themselves exposed to a real onslaught.

Mumbai FC scored once again just five minutes into the second half as the Warriors made a mockery of themselves for the manner in which they conceded the goal. Hitesh Sharma struck the crossbar to see the ball bounce high in the air. The Warriors completely switched off thinking the ball went out of the play allowing it to bounce into the net.

Hiesh Sharma them turned provider for centre back Chaudhary who had the easiest of tap ins in the 56th minute as Mumbai FC made it 7-0.

However Mumbai FC were breached just minutes later when a mix up between the centre back and the goalkeeper allowing the Mumbai Warriors’ forward to get his team on the score sheet.

N.P. Pradeep then scored his second goal of the game when his powerful left footed drive nestled the back of the net as Mumbai FC led 8-1 with seven minutes to play.

There was still time for one more goal as Sandes Gadkari tapped home Mumbai FC’s ninth goal with an assist from substitute John Coutinho as Mumbai FC booked a date with Indian Navy in the Quarter Finals with a 9-1 win