Mumbai Soccer Prodigies & South Mumbai United Battle to a Six-Goal Stalemate in a Thrilling Encounter

by Chittu Shetty September 16, 2024

In a match brimming with intensity and drama, South Mumbai United’s Rishi Kartha rescued a point in the dying minutes, denying Mumbai Soccer Prodigies (MSP) a victory and ensuring both teams walked away with a 3-3 draw in a pulsating six-goal thriller.

The game started with MSP making their intentions clear right from the kickoff. They didn’t take long to break the deadlock. Amit stepped up to take a free kick from distance, and his perfectly weighted ball met the towering Akshay Chavan, whose header found the back of the net. The early strike gave MSP a 1-0 lead and a much-needed boost of confidence.

South Mumbai United, however, looked dangerous at times, especially when Naman rose to meet a corner. His powerful header narrowly missed the target, signaling that South Mumbai were very much in the contest.

MSP, eager to cement their early advantage, struck again in spectacular fashion. Nihal Colaco picked up the ball on the right flank and, spotting the opposition keeper slightly off his line, unleashed an outrageous curler from 25 yards out. The ball sailed into the top left corner, leaving the South Mumbai goalkeeper rooted to the spot and MSP two goals to the good.

Akshay Chavan, instrumental in controlling the midfield, continued to probe from range, but it was South Mumbai United who capitalized on an opportunity to pull one back. A misjudgement by MSP’s keeper led to an indirect free kick inside the box, and Rajveer, the South Mumbai skipper, slotted it for his team to make it 2-1.

As the first half unfolded, MSP’s Kishan, back from suspension after his red card in the opening fixture against Brothers WA, made his mark. Yashwant and Dev combined down the left flank, with Dev whipping in a dangerous cross that South Mumbai’s goalkeeper failed to handle. Kishan seized the opportunity, pouncing on the loose ball and firing it into the top right corner to restore MSP’s two-goal cushion.

The first half wasn’t just about goals. The tension boiled over when a South Mumbai United bench player was shown a red card following a heated argument with the referee.

The second half began with renewed energy from both teams. MSP’s Dev, once again proving to be a threat on the left, whipped in a cross that caused havoc in the South Mumbai Utd box. The goalkeeper fumbled, and Kishan, with the goal at his mercy, sent his shot over the bar, squandering a golden opportunity to seal the game.

South Mumbai United, however, refused to back down. Rishi Kartha, a graduate of the club’s academy, was pivotal in the comeback. A perfectly timed through ball sent him clear, and he made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball through the legs of the MSP goalkeeper to bring the score to 3-2.

With the clock ticking down, Rishi completed his heroics. In the dying minutes, he launched a thunderous strike from 25+ yards out that flew into the top left corner, leveling the score at 3-3 and completing an improbable comeback for South Mumbai United.

The final moments of the game saw MSP with two clear chances to reclaim the lead. Kishan, after weaving past his marker, found himself in a perfect position and directed a golden opportunity to dev, but he overhit his shot, wasting a simple tap-in. Dev had another chance in the final seconds, but his shot was easily saved by the South Mumbai goalkeeper, ensuring the match ended all square.

Both teams will look to build on this intense encounter. MSP faces United City on September 22, while South Mumbai United prepares to meet Bombay Gymkhana on September 23.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.