Salsette Score Two Past A Dominant Sunday Boys Side

by Balbir Singh November 5, 2015

On Wednesday 4th November ’15, MDFA Super Division’s Group A fixture between Salsette and Sunday Boys saw the Salsette score two past the Sunday Boys on both ends of the second-half to clinch a deserved victory.

It was a game, which chanced in the favor of both teams; the first-half saw the Sunday Boys dominate possession and proceedings by regularly creating opportunities, enjoying a greater share of chances created – only to fail in converting. The Sunday Boys built-up plays from the back as they possessed a better set of ball distributors in defence and midfield, but their lack of it in the attack ultimately cost them a loss on the day.

Both Ali (from the back) and Akash (from midfield) worked-out short and long balls throughout the match, but couldn’t find the decisiveness in their passing. Despite dominating the first-half of the game, the first chance fell to Salsette’s number 19 Amit Kanta, who failed to capitalize in a one-on-one situation. Meanwhile, the Sunday Boys drilled numerous crosses into the box, converting none into a real goal-threatening opportunity.

The first-half saw a saw a host of offside decision given against Salsette, who tried breaking in-behind the Sunday Boys’ defence. Salsette amongst a number of missed chances throughout the match, flopped at converting sitters in the first-half, when goalkeeper Akshay Shetty of Sunday Boys saved his team with a one-hand stop to intercept the pass in the box. Sunday Boys played with a highline, which was timely threatened with the counter-attacking style of football from Salsette.

Featuring in a 4-1-3-2 formation, Salsette looked to exploit the spaces upfront, but failed to have any real control in midfield. At the start of the second-half, Salsette brought-on their number 25 Anirudh for an underperforming Kaustubh. Salsette now possessed two strong central players in Anirudh and Sourabh, who were not only capable of shielding the back-line, but also moving the ball up-front.

Salsette looked threatening and changed the flow of the match 8 minutes into the second-half, when a classic counterattacking move saw Amit Kanta setup second-half substitute Anirudh, who slammed the ball into the net with his left-foot into the far-right corner of the goal. The goal not only gave Salsette a much deserved lead for their ability to recover the ball better and play better football with as-well-as without the ball. Manoranjan was Salsette’s star-man, not only for his goal-line clearance, but also for being better with his clearances and distribution.

The second goal came from Salsette’s number 9 Sahil Mukane, who hit the final nail in the coffin with a dinking in the header past Sunday Boys’ goalkeeper Akshay Shetty. The match saw a host of half and quarter chances missed. But Salsette looked to be in better shape and equipped to breakthrough on a day when nothing seemed converted into goal. If Manoranjan was the winning side’s star-man, Majkia Hansdah was Salsette’s charm, whose work-rate and desire and ability to contribute on both ends of the field couldn’t be overlooked.