Everton seal second spot in Group A with 2-1 victory over RFYC

Everton FC defeated the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) 2-1 in a closely contested fixture of the Reliance Foundation presents Premier League Next Generation Cup in Navi Mumbai today.

The hosts held the Toffees at bay for the first-half as the game was equally poised at the half-time mark. Both sides were defensively solid but still created a couple of goal-scoring opportunities each in the opening half of the match.

Yet, they were lacking the decisive final touch until Coby Ebere from Everton finished off a well-constructed move in the 41st minute to get the crucial lead for the visitors. Ebere smartly outran his marker as he made his way into the box from the left channel and placed the ball into the back of the net.

Everton embarked into a period of some fantastic, free-flowing offensive moves from then onwards. They regularly made inroads into the RFYC defence and stretched their backline by exerting pressure from the wings. They didn’t send in too many lateral deliveries into the box but instead focused on breaching the RFYC formation through the centre.

Halid Djankpata made the most of this little phase by cutting inside from the left flank, bringing a deflection down and striking the ball cleanly into the bottom right corner to double Everton’s lead. A lead of two goals heading into the final 20 minutes had more or less ensured three points for the Kieran Driscoll-coached team.

Players in action during GENNEXT League Played between Sudeva Delhi F.C and Wolves at Reliance corporate park at Ghansoli, in Navi Mumbai on 23rd May 2023 Photo: Hariom Hans /Focus Sports/

Everton have made a fine comeback in the league after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in their opening match of the campaign. They recovered through a clinical 1-0 victory against Sudeva Delhi FC on Saturday and put in arguably their most impressive performance in tonight’s game. They regularly tried pushing forward right from the beginning and bore the results of the same with the two goals that practically sealed their fate in the game.

RFYC, to their credit, were relentless in their pursuit of cutting down Everton’s lead. They moved ahead swiftly from the flanks but their final delivery was often intercepted by the opposition’s backline. Sanan Mohammed who had scored for them in their 1-0 victory against Sudeva last week, found himself to be in the right place at the right time yet again.

Sanan continued pressing high to help RFYC recover possession and he pounced on a long ball from his team’s midfield in the injury time to put the ball past Everton goalkeeper Dylan Graham and accordingly secure his second goal of the tournament. Everton and RFYC will now face Group B teams West Ham United and ATK Mohun Bagan respectively in their following match on May 25, Thursday.

Brief Scores

Everton FC 2 (Coby Ebere 41’, Halid Djankpata 50’) – 1 (Sanan Mohammed K 72’) Reliance Foundation Young Champs

Also Read:

WIFA Inter District Tournament for Junior Boys Begins May 24

Next Gen Cup: Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Sudeva FC 2-0

India Khelo Football Workshop returns to Mumbai for its 4th Season

The Indian Khelo Football (IKF) Workshop returns to Mumbai this September, bringing with it an exceptional platform for aspiring footballers to showcase their skills and seize opportunities that could transform…

Share

Somaiya FC announces trials for the upcoming 2024-25 Season

Somaiya FC, having secured a commendable 5th position in the MFA Super Division last season, has announced open trials as they gear up for upcoming season. The team, known for…

Share

VR Academy to conduct trials for 2024-25 Season

Mumbai based VR Academy has announced trials for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The club is looking for talented young players to join our esteemed academy and participate in various competitive…

Share

MH ORANJE FC U-17 Trials for the Upcoming Season

With a proud legacy of nurturing talent and achieving excellence, Maharashtra Oranje FC has recently made waves with appearances in I-League 2, securing a remarkable runner-up position in the fiercely…

Share

Football School of India announce trials for Young Talents

Football School of India (FSI) has announced trials for young football enthusiasts in the upcoming week of June. A golden opportunity for aspiring players to showcase their talents and potentially…

Share

Mumbai Super League club Charkop FC to conduct open trials for upcoming Season

Calling all aspiring football stars! Charkop FC, a MFA super division club based in Charkop, Kandivali, is set to conduct Open Trials for the upcoming season. About Charkop FC: In…

Share

Mumbai 42 Football Academy to conduct trials for Youth players

Newly established Mumbai 42 Football Academy will be conducting trials for young footballers in the upcoming week.

Share

SSE BFC to conduct trials for U9 to U17 age group players

SSE BFC Soccer School will be conducting fresh trials this month for players aged below 17 to be part of their football program SSE BFC Soccer Schools is a football…

Share

India Khelo Football Season 3 Trials for Mumbai and Thane are here

India Khelo Football (IKF) is back with Season 3 of its widely acclaimed trials with an aim to cover more than 50 cities this time around. After the resounding success…

Share

Mastering the Art of Football Trials: Key Pre-Trial Factors to Keep in Mind

Football trials are a critical juncture for aspiring players to showcase their skills and secure a spot in a team. To maximize your chances of success, it’s essential to tailor your approach based on your playing position as well as keeping in mind a few pre-trial factors.

Share