U16 Y-League: Kenkre FC fight from a goal down to beat FC Pune City

by Avinash Palai December 5, 2016

December 4, 2016, Mamurdi Ground: Kenkre FC travelled to FC Pune City for the final under-16 Youth League Maharashtra Zone group ‘A’ match.

The travelling team, Kenkre FC came into matchday 12 with their eyes set on the top spot of the group ‘A’, as a win would guarantee progression into the next round as winners.

Having been a goal down inside five minutes, as the home team took the lead through Roshan Gigi on 4 minutes, Kenkre FC scored three times before the halftime break to put themselves in a match-winning position.

A 71st-minute goal from Mozaffar Ali gave room for the home side to get back into the match, but Kenkre F.C. remained strong at the back and the game through as 3-2 winners.

Kenkre F.C. completed a double over their Sunday afternoon’s hosts, as they had won their home match against Pune City by a one-goal margin earlier in November. Kenkre FC under-16 has been a ray of light at the end of the tunnel for the club’s senior teams, who have struggled to match up to the expectations for a long time now.

But with qualification for the under-16’s, Kenkre can take a sigh of relief. Their fightback spirit helped them overcome a tough opposite in Pune City, who has been continually misfiring this season. They Pune side finished third and five points adrift of second place Thane’s – Football School of India.

In terms of the match, Kenkre’s superiority in the first half bought them the match as they failed to live up to expectations and carry the momentum in the second half of the match.

Roshan Gigi opened the scoring, but Pune City took the backseat in the aftermath as Kenkre managed to grow into the match, equalising in the 15th minute through Marc Mendonca.

Kenkre grabbed the lead as Jay Bhavnani in the 24th minute, and just before the half-time whistle, Nathan De Rozario doubled the side’s lead on 43 minutes.

In the second-half, Kenkre dipped in terms of the intensity they offered throughout the first half, whereas Pune City was managing the struggles of their own to string a few passes in the Kenkre’s final third.

Pune City got their lifeline goal on 71 minutes when Mozaffar Ali scored, but Kenkre were comfortable to defend their one goal from there after.

Also, read about the upcoming U-18 match against DSK Shivajians