IIT Powai (B) outclasses SMFC in the 3rd division while FC India replaced VBFC at the top in 1st division

by Spandan Paul February 3, 2018

2nd February 2018, Mumbai: As many as four MDFA matches took place yesterday, here, at St. Xavier’s Ground, Parel. IIT Powai (B) outclassed South Mumbai FC in a 3rd division play-off match in group B whereas, in Group E, Sirf Keval FC and Pioneer Residency played out a goalless draw. In 1^st division matches, Vailankanni Boys FC came hard at (MFC) FC India but lost out in a thriller in Group D while in group A Somaiya SA defeated Goan Sports Association 2-0.

3^rd  Div. Group B league match –. IIT Powai (B) (Divine 20’ & 50′ and Diamary Montu 35’) 3-0 South Mumbai FC

It was the occasion for 3^rd division play-off, Group league match, when group toppers IIT Powai (B) and South Mumbai FC clashed in their last match. South Mumbai needed a scoreline of 4-0 in favour of them to have any hopes of qualifying. Both the team started on a positive note but SMFC seemed to be rushing a tad too much when they were in possession. The first goal came in the 20^th minute which caught SMFC off guard as an apparently harmful cross from Arjun Zore found Divine Pullokaran clear off the defenders, which he calmly put into the back of the net. When the play resumed after the break with scoreline 1-0, IIT Powai (B) looked in complete control as SMFC were a bit erratic in ball distribution; and soon the second goal arrived in the form of Diamary Montu from right, as he got a nice assist from Narayan Rajgopalan, the centre midfielder.

South Mumbai FC tried to recover many times with their best chance coming when Sayyed Moh. Ali got a rebound ball inside the penalty box after the save by goalie but failed to convert it. Time and again incisive runs from both right and left by Diamery Montu And Divine always spelt trouble for the South Mumbai defense and at the fag end of the match came the third and final goal of the match; again by Divine as he took a wonderful solo run which was saved at first attempt by SMFC custodian but it  fell again to Divine’s foot. This time he calmly put in into the left corner even after attempts from SMFC defenders to block it from the goal line. With this win, IIT Powai (B) now sits pretty at the top with 9 points from 3 games while SMFC finished in the last place in this group B.

3rd Division Playoff  –  Sirf Keval FC 0-0 Pioneer Residency

Sirf Keval FC and Pioneer Residency played out a goalless draw in the group E playoff league match. Both teams needed a victory to have any hopes of qualification alive. But that was not the case as Sirf Keval finally finished in 3^rd position ahead of Pioneer due to more goals scored, as they both are now tied with 2 points from 3 match in group E.

1^st division Group D – (MFC) FC India (Jaspreet, John and William) 3-2  Vailankanni Boys FC (Akshit and Clifton)

In a group D affair of 1^st division league matches, it was the battle of supremacy as  FC India perched Vailankanni Boys FC  from the top as the put an end to VBFC’s unbeaten streak while extending their own winning run to 5 matches. Jaspreet Singh opened the scoring in the seventh minute for FCI and retained their lead till the half after which the match turned exciting. VBFC equalized in the 50^th min through Akshit Michael and generated a lead in the 66^th minute when Clifton Colaso scored another. But FC India came back hard at them as they scored 2 goals in the space of  5 mins from 72nd-minute courtesy John Lawrence Prem and William Chettiar to seal a pragmatic win.

1^st Division Group A – Somaiya Sports Academy (Sumit and Sagar) 2-0 Goan Sports Asso.

In a Group A fixture, Somaiya Sports Academy overcame Goan Sports Asso 2-0 courtesy strikes from Sumit  Chaurasia and  Sagar Singh. The match which involved 11 yellow cards and two red cards, with marching orders being given to the goalscorer Sagar can be the turning point for Somaiya as they go up to the second spot behind Miner’s FC with 11 points from 5 matches improving their standing by 2 ranks from being behind Goan Sports Asso. who now drops a place to be fourth as they have 9 points from 5 games.