Taisuke sends Mumbai FC into the last four

by Siddharth Yadav November 26, 2015

On 26th November, 2015 Mumbai FC registered a narrow 1-0 win against a determined Union Bank of India side to book a match against Mumbai Customs in the semi-final of RCF Nadkarni Cup Football Tournament 2015-16.

Taisuke’s sublime finish midway into the first-half proved to be the only goal of this quarter-final clash.

Union Bank of India gave tough fight to Mumbai FC in both the half as the victors were finding it hard to penetrate into Union Bank of India’s defense. Mumbai FC, who has been scoring for fun this season were kept quiet for the majority of the match.

Although Taisuke’s goal on the 22nd minute gave Mumbai FC a much needed lead, Union Bank of India kept threatening Mumbai’s back four.

Just minutes after Taisuke’s goal, Sandesh Gadkari could have doubled Mumbai’s lead.

Japanese recruit Taisuke found Sandesh unmarked on the edge of the box with a delightful through ball, the number 14 cut inside and launched a powerful shot which was tipped over the bar by Union Bank of India’s goalkeeper Sheldon Raghwan.

Union Bank of India started the second-half from where they left. The Bankers had a much better and improved 45 minutes.

Mumbai FC did got enough number of chances in the second-half but their poor finishing kept haunting them for the rest of the half.

Mumbai’s striker Sandesh Gadkari saw his header rattled the post on the 69th minute, had his header went in it should have seal the match for Mumbai FC right there.

Four minutes later, N.P Pradeep too fancied his shot from distance which sailed over the bar.

Union Bank of India’s Valentine Pereira, Nascimento Santiago and Royston D’Souza were proving out to be UBI’s standout players. Mumbai’s back four were finding it difficult to stop their build-up as the Bankers were geared up for the equalizer.

This made Mumbai FC’s back four to press UBI’s attackers to restrict them, and it did succeed in the late stages of the match.

Union Bank of India’s substitute Tejas Raut and Mrunal Tandel tried to make the impact upfront but Mumbai held their nerves to overcome the Bankers.

With this win, Mumbai FC has qualifed for the Semi-Finals where they will meet Mumbai Customs on 28th November.