MH Oranje FC’s late woes continue as ICL stages dramatic comeback

by Chittu Shetty October 3, 2024

In a thrilling semifinal clash of the Harwood Champions League, ICL Mumbai stunned MH Oranje with two late goals to win 3-2 and set up finals clash with RFYC who defeated Bank of Baroda 2-1.

Goals from Jennish and Ronik Singh in the dying moments broke MH Oranje FC’s hearts, once again casting them into the shadow of late-match collapses. The stage was set for an explosive semifinal, with both MH Oranje FC and ICL Mumbai known for goal-scoring throughout the campaign—13 and 12 goals, respectively.

MH Oranje FC quickly found their rhythm, dictating possession early in the game. It didn’t take long for them to break the deadlock, courtesy of their in-form talisman. The move began with captain Manish Siddha surging down the left flank. A slick one-two exchange with winger Kamie allowed Siddha to whip in a low cross. Though ICL’s defense managed a partial clearance, the ball fell invitingly to Khatib on the edge of the box. With a sublime first touch, Khatib struck a brilliant strike into the top left corner, giving MH Oranje a deserved 1-0 lead. With control of the game and four shots on target compared to ICL’s zero, MH Oranje appeared to be cruising as the first half came to a close.

The second half saw a shift in momentum as ICL Mumbai, trailing by one, began to push forward in search of an equalizer. MH Oranje’s goalkeeper, Pratik Jadhav, stood tall, producing a couple of critical saves—one in a one-on-one situation and another from a long-range attempt. However, a moment of recklessness changed the game’s complexion when defender Dhanesh conceded a penalty for bringing down ICL’s winger in the box. Up stepped Zeeshan, the man who had scored a hat-trick in the previous game, and he confidently buried the spot-kick, leveling the score despite Pratik diving the right way.

As the match seemed to be heading toward extra time, Khatib once again produced a moment of magic. With quick feet and clever movement, he danced through multiple defenders at the edge of the box before curling in his trademark shot to the top left corner. MH Oranje reclaimed their lead, and with time running out, they looked set to secure their spot in the final.

But football is a game of unpredictable twists, and ICL Mumbai had one final card to play. In the 89th minute, Ronik Singh delivered a well-placed corner into the far post, where Jennish Singh rose above the defense and powered home a header. Pratik managed to get a fingertip on it, but it wasn’t enough to keep it.

Then came the crushing blow in the final seconds of stoppage time. Zeeshan sent in a dangerous free-kick that seemed destined for the net, but Pratik once again made a stunning fingertip save. However, the ball spilled into the path of Ronik Singh, who was in the right place at the right time to tap it in and complete an extraordinary comeback for ICL Mumbai.

ICL’s road to the finals has been nothing short of remarkable, with two consecutive matches where they clawed back from losing positions to snatch victories in the dying moments. For MH Oranje FC, it’s another devastating defeat at the death, leaving them to reflect on what could have been.

– Image Credit MH Oranje FC

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