Injury time stunner from Reagan Pereira seals Mumbai City FC’s come from behind win

by Chittu Shetty January 10, 2024

A last gasp strike from Reagan Pereira gave Mumbai City FC U19 side a memorable come from behind win over Tarun Sporting, thereby keeping their Mumbai Super League playoff race on track

In a pivotal Group C encounter of the Mumbai Super League, Mumbai City FC (U19) faced off against Tarun Sporting, both in the race for a top 2 finish with unbeaten records on the line.

The game kicked off with Tarun Sporting showcasing their attacking prowess, notably from an early corner that tested Mumbai’s goalkeeper, Shaury Sharma, forcing him into a full-stretched dive to make a crucial save.

The breakthrough came from the ensuing corner, with Prathamesh Kasare of Tarun Sporting finding the net after his header from outside the box deflected off a defender. Undeterred, Mumbai City launched a series of attacks, with youthful exuberance but were evenly matched by the experienced heads of Tarun Sporting. The first half unfolded with strategic defensive play from Tarun Sporting to keep Mumbai colts attack in bay, resulting in an evenly poised battle.

Just around the halftime mark, Mumbai City orchestrated a brilliant play to breach the Tarun defense. A quick interplay of passes from the left-wing ended with Omkar Talkar’s precise pass into the box to set the stage for Steiner Dsouza, whose well-timed movement inside the box allowed for a first-time shot, catching the Tarun defence off guard and leveling the score.

The second half witnessed an early surge from Tarun Sporting, launching a vigorous attack. A corner for Tarun Sporting met the foot of Prathamesh, who passed to Roger Sam outside the box. However, Roger’s shot soared over the bar. Mumbai City countered from the left wing, with Ahan Sharma attempting a strike from outside the box, narrowly missing the target as the ball hit the woodwork.

As both teams pressed forward relentlessly, Mumbai City’s Adil had a near-perfect shot aimed at the top left corner, brilliantly saved by Tarun Sporting goalkeeper Pritam Jadhav. Pritam was in an excellent form, displaying extraordinary goalkeeping, as he denied consecutive goal attempts from Islanders, keeping Tarun Sporting in the game.

In the dying minutes of the game, a golden opportunity presented itself for Tarun Sporting when Jayesh Sutar set up a clear chance for jersey number 24. However, the shot went over the bar as the chance went begging, and Mumbai City breathed a sigh of relief.

In a dramatic turn of events, Mumbai City was awarded a crucial free-kick just outside the box, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion. Arsh Bagwan’s delivery was met by Parvesh, who headed the ball down to Reagan Pereira. The young striker unleashed a powerful shot into the bottom left corner, securing a last-minute victory for Mumbai City with a 2-1 triumph.

This crucial win puts Mumbai City FC back on track for a playoff spot with three games in hand, while Tarun Sporting faces a must-win game against India on Track to keep their playoff hopes alive.

– Courtesy inputs from Shantanu, Apurv and Anas

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