Mumbai Rush and JMJ notch up wins in 2nd Division play-offs

by Siddharth Yadav March 21, 2018

19th March 2018, Mumbai: MDFA Second Division play-off league has gone underway a couple of days ago. On Monday evening, under the floodlights, two Group A games were played at the St. Xavier’s Ground, Parel. Mumbai Rush Soccer Club encountered Millat FC ‘B’ while JMJ Sports Club faced Lakers FC in the second and final game of that day. Mumbai Rush and JMJ Sports Club went on to notch up a fine win to kick-start their play-off campaign on a positive note.

Mumbai Rush (Pratik Shetty 46′ and Somesh Masurkar 50′) 2-1 Millat FC ‘B’ (Saalik Khan 33′)

Earlier in the season, Mumbai Rush had suffered a defeat at the hands of Millat FC ‘B’ but on Monday night, they peaked at the right time to take a sweet revenge against a strong and gritty Millat FC ‘B’ side in a narrow and deserving 2-1 victory.

Mumbai Rush started well on an attacking note where the coach fielded a 4-4-2 formation where they dominated the proceedings. Millat FC’s backline stood firm to avoid any dangerous play around their penalty box. In the 33rd minute, Saalik Khan converted a beautiful free-kick to give Millat FC ‘B’ a  crucial lead just before the break.

Mumbai Rush responded on a positive note as they kept their heads cool going into the second-half. Pratik Shetty’s glancing header made it 1-1 before Somesh Masurkar scored a stunning long-range strike which sailed straight into the top corner. Somesh’s goal turned out to be the decisive goal as they edged Millat FC ‘B’ 2-1 in an entertaining game.

Captain (Murad Mohammed): It was a good game. Coach & player Nishad Mandalkar helped us and kept us motivated all the time. We were 1-0 down but our unity & hard work brought us back.

Coach (Nishad Mandalkar): Boys played wonderfully in the second half. Good to see them not giving up. Good save by our goalkeeper Jay Suryavanshi which kept us in the match.

JMJ Sports Club (Reuben Fernandes x 5, Merwyn Fernandes 3′ & 18′ and Melvin Barboza 28′ & 65′) 9-0 Lakers FC

In the second game of Group A play-off league, JMJ Sports Club thrashed Lakers FC 9-0 in what was a destructive attacking display by JMJ at the St. Xavier’s Ground, Parel. With this win, JMJ is currently at the top of Group A with an astounding goal-difference.

Reuben Fernandes scored a whopping five goals while Merwyn Fernandes and Melvin Barboza scored two goals each in a memorable and ruthless victory against a shaky Lakers FC side.