MSSA and Mumbai FC enter final; Round-up: MDFA U-14 Semi-finals

by Balbir Singh November 27, 2016

Lions Municipal Sports Complex: On Sunday, 27^th November 2016, the Mumbai District Football Association Under-14 Youth League semi-final matches took place. After some intense drama that unfolded, on the day, MSSA and Mumbai FC progressed through to the final beating Goans and JJ Academy respectively. The two matches hosted some really bright sets of talents on display, with some highly competitive matches being played, as the inaugural season of the league reached its semi-final chapter.

In the first semi-final, where MSSA beat Goans 4-3 in the penalties, turned out to be an enthralling game of football with both sides putting their maximum efforts to push themselves into the final. Both sides were possessed with an equally good amount of chances, with MSSA having a marginally better set of opportunity, which didn’t prove fruitful in normal time. The two goalkeepers were a standout throughout the tie, producing some fine saves, even in the penalty shootout.

Despite having started poorly, the shootout, turned in favour of MSSA as they converted consecutive spot kicks, while Goans misfired. For MSSA Kris Benson, Anson Tauro, Nihal Dudwadkar and Amey Kadam converted, whereas Nilay Sole, Arya Giandharva and Ryan Shah scored for Goans.

As the full-time result was available, later than anticipated, the MSSA players had burst in joy as they warmly greeted the moment and thanked everyone. For Goans it was tough to take it, having come so far in the competitions and lacking that little extra; but some really fine performances over the course, and ample of thinking time and room for improvement, the side can prove to be much stronger as the time progresses.

The second semi-final between Mumbai FC and JJ Academy was hardly a contest as Mumbai FC dominated proceedings from very early on in the match; despite a scoreline that would suggest otherwise. Mumbai FC concluded the first-half’s play with a dominant performance yielding two goals from Karm Mulchandani. Pratik Vaplkry’s goal in the second half gave Mumbai FC a minor setback, but another Mulchandani strike to complete his hat-trick and restore his side’s two-goal lead proved vital at a crucial moment in the match.

As the match entered into its final stages, Mumbai was continuing to dominate the gameplay as they did throughout the match, looking hungry for more goals. In the closing stages, JJ struck again through Vaplkry to cut the deficit to just one goal, but it was too late for any miraculous turnout as Mumbai FC saw the match through as referee blew the full-time whistle.

The final between Mumbai FC and MSSA will be played on 4^th December 2016 at Lions Municipal Complex 10:25 a.m. Prior to it there will be a third place match between JJ Academy and Goans at 8:00 a.m.