Mumbai Customs blank PIFA Colaba to return to winning ways

by Siddharth Yadav October 17, 2015

On 16^th October, 2015 Mumbai Customs defeats PIFA Colaba 2-0 in the Elite Division of Mumbai District Football Association at Cooperage Stadium. Goals from Rinaldo Fernandes and Deepak in either was enough to see off PIFA Colaba.

Right from Referee’s whistle Mumbai Customs kept dominating and had majority of ball possession at their feet.

Mumbai Customs’s midfielder Akshay Saptoji had a brilliant first-half display as he tormented PIFA Colaba’s defence by his vision and precise passing.

It was Akshay who fancied his luck from range earlier in the first half when his shot sailed just over the bar. Moments later Akshay again dribbled past couple of defenders and tried his luck again, this time his shot was blocked by PIFA Colaba’s defender Jiten Koli.

Akshay Saptoji and his teammate Deepak Irmali were having a tremendous moments in first-half of the match. Both were linking up well, midway into the first half Akshay’s through ball met Deepak whose shot got blocked by PIFA Colaba’s defender yet again.

PIFA Colaba had their first say when Zeeshan Shaikh saw his effort saved by Mumbai Custom’s goalkeeper, Lihaz Kaya.

Mumbai Customs finally opened the scoring on 21^st minute when a precise low cross from Mumbai Custom’s winger Deepak Irmali was tapped in by striker Rinaldo Fernandes into the goal. It was an early breakthrough for Mumbai Customs which gave them an upper hand against PIFA Colaba.

Five minutes later, PIFA Colaba Jiten Koli handled the ball just outside the box, giving Mumbai Customs a great opportunity to double their lead but Rinaldo Fernandes free kick was way over the target.

Rinaldo Fernandes, Ashrafali and Akshay Saptoji were linking up very well upfront. They proved to be potent threat for PIFA Colaba’s defence.

On 40^th minute, Rinaldo Fernandes made an inch perfect through ball to Ashrafali whose low cross from right flank couldn’t end up in goal as it proved to just far for Akshay Saptoji.

Just before the break, PIFA Colaba got a golden opportunity to equalize, Sushant Jadhav rolled the ball towards Zeeshan Shaikh who blasted his shot just way just over the bar.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Rilando Fernandes delightful low cross from right flank was poked into the net by his crime in partner, Mumbai Custom’s Deepak Irmali to increase their lead to 2-0 over PIFA Colaba. This move was a reminiscent of Mumbai Custom’s first goal, ironically it was Deepak himself who assisted the first goal to Rinaldo Fernandes.

PIFA Colaba’s day just got worse when Raunak Patel failed to capitalize his opportunity into the goal when he went round Mumbai Custom’s goalkeeper Lihaz Kaya but unfortunately his shot was blocked.

Mumbai Customs almost scored their third goal when Sajjad Alam free kick struck the post, on the rebound Custom’s defender Siddhesh Surve also struck the same post which left Customs in anguish.

There were no further attempts on goal from both the teams as Mumbai Customs ran out as victors.