Air India and KSA cruises into the next round of Nadkarni Cup

by Siddharth Yadav February 7, 2018

6th February 2018, Mumbai: The 111th edition of RCF Nadkarni Cup went underway yesterday at RCF Ground, Chembur. Defending Champions Air India and Karnataka Sports Association (KSA) booked their place in the next round with a comprehensive victory. 

Air India (Pratik Koli 6′ & 23′, Sagar Khanvilkar 16′ & 83′ and Santosh Koli 8′) 5-0 Mumbai Port Trust 

The opening game of the Tournament saw Air India locking horns against Mumbai Port Trust (MPT). In what turned out to be a drubbing, Air India registered a thumping 5-0 win, all thanks to their lethal finishing in the first-half.

It took the holders just six minutes to open the scoring when prolific striker Pratik Koli buried his effort past MPT’s onrushing goalkeeper Ashish Yadav who was way out of his position. Two minutes later, experienced defender Santosh Koli doubled Air India’s lead with a close tap-in after MPT’s backline failed to clear the initial corner.

The trio of Advait Shinde, Amey Bhatkal and Pratik Koli was too good for MPT. In the 16th minute, Amey’s incisive pass was met by Advait on the left flank whose pinpoint ball across the goal was headed in by unmarked Sagar Khanvilkar. With the match progressing, things kept getting worse for MPT. In the 23rd minute, Pratik Koli was on the mark again as he smartly put a delicate through ball by Advait into the back of the net which made it 4-0.

Air India had fielded a very young side yesterday with the likes of Amey Bhatkal, Advait Shinde, Yash Vanveru, Shubham Mane and Praveen C. starting the match. The second-half saw Air India wasting numerous opportunites to add to their tally, whereas, MPT were still struggling to respond. Sagar Khanvilkar scored the fifth and final goal in the 83rd minute to wrap a comfortable victory and book their place in the next round.