Arfaat Ansari’s brace inspries Dena Bank comeback

by Prasad bhutkar January 22, 2016

Dena Bank came back from 2-0 down to beat Rhema SF  3-2 in the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) , Super Division match held of Friday evening at St Xavier’s ground Parel.

Dena Bank came into the game unbeaten in the group and very high on confidence in contrast to Rhema who were looking to put a 2-0 defeat against Century Rayon behind.

Rhema SF started the better of the two teams as they looked to press early leaving no spaces in the midfield. Dena Bank soaked up alot of pressure before creating chances of their own. Number  10 Arfaat Ansari headed wide from number 12 Darshan Ghadge’s cross. A glorious chance to take the lead. And they missed another shot at goal when a ball coming in from the freekick was fired across an open goal from number 9 Guruprasad Borhade. Two very good chances gone down the drains.

Rhema were very quick to capitalise on this as a corner at the other end was converted by number 19 Suraj Bhagat in the 35th minute. Against the run of play Rhema lead 1-0 at halftime. They ended the half very strong and didnot allow Dena Bank to get over them.

Dena bank came out very strong looking for the equaliser. But Rhema were clinical to round off their second goal just 2 minutes into the second half. A howler in defense as the Rhema player chipped the keeper only for defenders who failed to clear it, number 17 Sunny Sanjay pounced on the error to make it 2-0. 47 minutes into the game Rhema lead 2-0 keeping Dena Bank at bay and very nearly made it 3-0.

Dena Bank began their comeback from the 55th minute when number 10 Arfaat Ansari made a lovely run down the right before netting the goal making it 2-1. The pressure from Dena Bank started to increase after their goal as they looked to build on this. And got their equaliser in the 79th minute when Ansari Al-Umair chipped a lovely ball over the top with the keeper finding his feet to make it 2-2. Game on and we were in for a nerve wrecking final 10 minutes. The comeback was complete in the 90th minute when Arfaat Ansari made a lung bursting run down the left to lob it past the keeper in the bottom right corner make it 3-2 in favour of Dena Bank.

That was one of the comebacks of this season’s MDFA league as Dena Bank maintained their unbeaten run. Rhema SF played very well for most of the game  but the equaliser to the sting out of the team as they let in the third goal.