Rohan Shukla’s last-gasp strike gives Kenkre FC all three points

by Siddharth Yadav January 29, 2019

28th January 2019, Mumbai: On Monday evening, Kenkre FC encountered CFCI (Community Football Club of India) in the MDFA Elite Division (Private Group) at Cooperage Stadium. Trailing 1-0 down for the majority of the match, Kenkre FC snatched all three points in the dying minutes, courtesy Rohan Shukla’s strike to edge CFCI 2-1.

With this win, Kenkre FC has moved to fourth in the table with 7 points in 3 games, just two points behind CFCI.

CFCI was dominant and created several chances throughout the game but lost the momentum in the last stages of the match.

CFCI started off well. Sushil Kawde, Sajjan Pawar, Deepak Apte, and Pratik Koli kept causing problems for Kenkre FC. With experience defender Ashish Pawaskar leading the CFCI defense, Kenkre FC struggled to penetrate in the final third.

At the break, both the sides couldn’t break the deadlock. In the second half, CFCI carried from where they had left off.

It was in the 58th minute when Pratik Koli found himself in an acre of space and brilliantly struck the ball with his right foot to find the back of the net to give CFCI a deserving 1-0 lead.

It seemed that CFCI would take all three points after breaking the deadlock but Kenkre FC had other plans. In the 85th minute, Ashrafali Makandar’s free-kick rattled the post before Bharat Thapa turned it in from close range to level the score.

CFCI players were furious as they appealed for offside. But the linesman Pravin Tambe and Central Referee Ronak were firm with their decision. CFCI lost their momentum and started to lose control of the match.

Kenkre FC took advantage of it and in the 96th minute, last minute of injury time, Rohan Shukla rounded off the CFCI Goalkeeper Vihang Salunkhe to snatch all three points for Kenkre FC.