Egan, Arjun star with braces as Maharashtra Oranje U23 beat Mumbai Marines 5-0

by Chittu Shetty December 13, 2023

In a clinical performance, Maharashtra Oranje FC beat Mumbai Marines 5-0 courtesy of goals from Egan Fernandes, Arjun Silwal and Dhrumil Kotak

With just 4 points separating the top 5 teams, Maharashtra Oranje FC versus Mumbai Marines FC became a must win situation for both side to be in the top 2 race.

After a cagey start, Oranje FC started putting their presence into the game and were soon rewarded with the goal. In the 18^th minute, a quick start to a freekick from middle of the park saw, Eegan Fernandes making a run into the box and latching on to it before firing in a shot past the keeper to break the dead lock

Few minutes later, Egan had another chance to double his tally and the lead after he found himself at the left side of the box, cutting in towards the middle, Egan struck a curling shot that looked destined to find the bottom right corner of goal, but a diving save from Shannon Pillay kept Marines in the game.

Moments later another Oranje attack from the right wing led to a melee in the middle resulting in an in-advert foul from Marines inside the box as the referee pointed to the spot. Arjun Silwal stepped up and found the back of the net with a cool calm finish to double the lead.

Maharashtra continued to attack and at the stroke of half time made it 3-0. A corner was was cleared away by the Marine defence but only as far as Egan at the edge of the box. Egan took a touch to beat a defender before striking a shot to find the top left corner, doubling his tally.

At the other end, Marines went close when Bhushan Worlikar’s attempted a long distance shot but couldn’t keep his shot down as the ball sailed inches over the bar.

The second half story continued in the same way, Maharashtra Oranje went 4-0 quickly within couple of minutes of restart. Arjun Silwal, wins the ball in the attacking third of Marines, beats couple of player on his way into the box before placing it wide of the keeper and into the net.

Around the hour mark, Oranje found another goal when a attack from the left end saw a low cross sent into the box for the Oranje strikers. Despite a heroic save in the first attempt by Shannon for Marines, an alert Dhrumil Kotak poked the rebound in to make it 5-0.

Marines had a chance to open their account in the dying moments of the game when a low ball across the oranje defence was met by Gaurav More’s first time touch however, the Oranje keeper Raaquib Merchant was alert enough to cover up the space and gather it away.

Oranje had couple of more chances to extend the lead but were denied by Marines keeper who had a field day thoughout the game

The win takes Oranje to the 2^nd spot in the league table after 8 games with 17 points with just 2 behind Somaiya FC. Meanwhile despite starting the season brightly Mumbai Marines seemed to have derailed in their campaign with the recent loss pretty much ending their play off chances.

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