Making their MFA 2nd Division debut last season, Tiwana immediately made an impact by winning the title and earning promotion. They have now repeated that success in the 1st Division, ensuring another step up the Mumbai football pyramid.

The final was settled in the 27th minute when Sheron Joseph rose highest to score a header, giving Tiwana the lead. The side then defended brilliantly to hold on for a 1-0 victory and lift the championship.

The achievement is a major milestone for owner Tajinder Tiwana, corporator from Malad West, who himself has played the game for his school St Joseph’s Malad & whose vision has been to promote football and create opportunities for local players.

“This achievement is a proud moment for everyone at Tiwana FC. We started with the aim of giving local players a platform, and back-to-back promotions show what can be achieved with the right commitment and belief. Now we want to take this journey forward and continue developing local talent in the Super Division,” said Tiwana.

“It was an amazing experience since it was a debut for the team & myself also as a coach . A big thank you to Mr. Ronnie Dsouza of UK united for trusting in me & suggesting and giving me an opportunity to Coach team Tiwana FC. Our team owner Mr. Tajinder has stood by me like a rock”, said Coach Ritesh Perambara

From 2nd Division newcomers to MFA Super Division contenders in just two seasons, Tiwana FC’s rapid rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

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With the title of champions of Mumbai on the line, both sides entered the final carrying immense expectations. MYJ had the opportunity to reclaim the crown they previously won two seasons ago, while Oranje FC were chasing their maiden Mumbai Premier League title in front of a packed crowd that turned up for the much-anticipated clash.

The opening half was evenly contested, with both teams creating dangerous moments in attack. MYJ came closest to opening the scoring, but Oranje goalkeeper Mukunthan produced a stunning double save to deny the Mighty Lions an early breakthrough. Oranje also threatened going forward on a few occasions, though they failed to seriously test MYJ goalkeeper Paramjeet Singh as the first half ended goalless.

Oranje returned for the second half with greater intensity and control, moving the ball confidently and forcing MYJ deeper into their own half. Their pressure eventually paid off in the 70th minute when they earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area after a foul by Sujal.

Up stepped Khatib, who delivered a brilliant strike over the wall and beyond Paramjeet to put Oranje FC ahead in the biggest moment of the season.

MYJ pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but the task became even more difficult when Oranje were awarded a penalty with just over ten minutes remaining after a foul by Athar inside the box. Khatib once again stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to double the lead and move Oranje within touching distance of the title.

Despite trailing by two goals late in the game, MYJ refused to give up. In the 87th minute, Arvindraj pulled one back with an acrobatic finish after a clever ball from Miit, giving MYJ a late spark of hope heading into the closing moments.

However, Oranje FC stood firm defensively and managed the final minutes well to secure a historic 2-1 victory and lift their first-ever Mumbai Premier League trophy.

The triumph marks a memorable moment for Oranje FC as they officially become champions of Mumbai for the 2025–26 season. MYJ, meanwhile, finish runners-up for the second consecutive campaign, though their consistent performances continue with a third straight top-two finish alongside securing their place in I-League 2.

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Two of the league’s strongest sides now stand one game away from glory after impressive campaigns throughout the season. Both teams have consistently shown quality, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure, setting up a highly anticipated final between two Mumbai football heavyweights.

MH Oranje FC enjoyed a strong league-stage campaign, finishing second in Group A with six wins, one draw, and only two defeats from nine matches. Their momentum carried into the playoffs, where they remained unbeaten with two wins and a draw to finish top of their playoff group.

Oranje then secured their place in the final with a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Reliance FYC in the semi-final. Having never lifted the Mumbai Premier League trophy before, the club now finds itself just one step away from creating history.

MYJ, meanwhile, delivered an outstanding league-stage performance by finishing top of Group B without suffering a defeat. Although they experienced their first loss of the season during the playoffs, they still managed to qualify from their group with two victories from three matches.

In the semi-final, MYJ edged past ICL Mumbai with a hard-fought 1-0 win to book their place in yet another final. It marks the club’s third consecutive top-two finish in the Mumbai Premier League, underlining their consistency at the highest level of Mumbai football. After winning the title in the 2023–24 season and finishing runners-up last year, MYJ now have an opportunity to reclaim the crown.

With both sides entering the final in strong form, anticipation continues to build ahead of kickoff. Oranje will be chasing their first-ever MPL title, while MYJ aim to restore themselves to the top once again.

Predictions and expectations will continue until kickoff, but once the whistle blows, only one team will rise above the other.

THE MPL FINAL
MYJ FC vs MH Oranje FC
May 21 | 4:00 PM | Neville Dsouza Ground, Bandra

Two heavyweights. One trophy. One final battle to decide who reigns supreme.

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Coming into the match with strong momentum after recently securing their place in the I-League 2 with an impressive home performance, MYJ looked sharper and more confident from the start.

ICL Mumbai, meanwhile, also entered the clash on the back of a commendable campaign after fighting their way through the playoff group stage.

The match began cautiously with both teams focused on staying compact and avoiding early mistakes. However, MYJ gradually started looking more threatening in attack.

Their biggest chance of the first half came just before the water break when Shravan made a clever run into the penalty area before being brought down inside the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, giving MYJ a golden opportunity to take the lead.

But ICL goalkeeper Pradip Naskar produced a brilliant save, diving low to deny Arif Shaikh’s penalty attempt and keeping the scores level.

Both sides went into halftime locked at 0-0 with everything still to play for.

ICL Mumbai nearly punished MYJ midway through the second half after a costly defensive error during a goal-kick routine.

Paramjeet’s misplaced pass fell kindly to Zeeshan near the edge of the box. Although the chance opened up perfectly for him, the forward slipped at the crucial moment and failed to get his shot away, allowing MYJ to escape.

MYJ responded with a major chance of their own soon after. A quick passing move involving Miit, Sujal and Arvindraj Rajan carved open the ICL defence. Arvindraj delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Tanmay, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Yet again, Naskar came to ICL’s rescue with another outstanding save.

Pratham Ghatnur then missed a huge opportunity from inside the six-yard box after brilliantly dribbling past multiple defenders, only to fire his effort wide despite getting into a comfortable scoring position.

However, the striker made amends moments later.
MYJ skipper Kamlesh Nadar floated in a dangerous curling delivery into the box and Ghatnur rose unmarked to power home a header and finally break the deadlock.

The goal proved enough as MYJ held on till the final whistle to seal their place in the MPL 2025-26 final.

With this victory, MYJ also secured their third consecutive top-two finish in the Mumbai Premier League since joining the competition — another sign of the club’s remarkable consistency.

ICL Mumbai will now face Reliance Foundation Young Champs in the third-place playoff on May 21, while MYJ will take on MH Oranje FC in the final of the Mumbai Premier League 2025-26.

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With a semi-final spot on the line, both sides approached the game with intensity, but it was MYJ who made the brighter start. Their early pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Tanmay showed composure in a one-on-one situation to give his side the lead.

Mumbay FC responded strongly and found their way back into the contest through Shreyas Vatekar, who rose well to head home from a cross and level the score before halftime.

The second half saw both teams battle for control, creating chances at either end. However, MYJ proved more clinical in front of goal. Tanmay struck again, reacting quickest to a rebound after Ghatnur’s effort was saved, restoring MYJ’s lead and completing his brace.

Mumbay FC pushed hard in search of an equaliser, but MYJ’s defence held firm under pressure. Shanon led from the middle of the park with a commanding performance, helping his side manage the game in the closing stages.

The final whistle confirmed MYJ’s progression to the semi-finals alongside Reliance FYC, while Mumbay FC’s playoff journey came to an end despite a strong showing.

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With all four teams level on points heading into the fixture, the stakes were high, and both sides delivered an end-to-end contest filled with goals and momentum swings. Hope United started on the front foot, but Reliance struck first in the 14th minute through Lalmuanuip, finishing off a swift counter-attacking move.

The momentum quickly shifted further in Reliance’s favour as Konthoujam Kingson capitalised on a defensive lapse to double the lead just minutes later. Shyam Krishna then added a third in the 34th minute with a stunning strike from distance, putting Reliance firmly in control.

Hope United, however, responded brilliantly before halftime. Rishi pulled one back in the 44th minute before Asadul Abdul added another just before the break, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and setting up an exciting second half.

The comeback was completed early after the restart when Hope were awarded a penalty, which Rishi converted to level the score at 3-3. But the game continued to swing wildly, as Wangphrang Phawa restored Reliance’s lead almost immediately with a header from a cross.

Reliance extended their advantage in the 68th minute through Vanlalthazuala, but Hope once again refused to back down. Chaitan’s superb free-kick in the 71st minute brought them back within a goal, keeping the contest alive until the final stages.

Despite relentless pressure from Hope United, Reliance FYC held their composure defensively to see out the game and secure a crucial win. The result takes them to the top of the playoff group with six points and confirms their place in the semi-finals, while Hope United exit the competition after a spirited fight.

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Coming into the fixture, ICL knew a win would confirm their progression, while IOT needed all three points to keep their qualification hopes alive. The defending champions started strongly, dominating possession and committing numbers forward, testing ICL’s defensive organisation throughout the first half.

Despite sustained pressure, ICL held firm at the back while also posing a threat on the counter. Both sides created promising situations, but neither could find the breakthrough, as the first half ended goalless.

The game sprang to life early in the second half when ICL took the lead in the 52nd minute. Avishek Kunjam produced a composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs, giving his side a crucial advantage and putting them firmly on course for qualification.

IOT pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but ICL’s defensive resilience proved decisive, with players throwing themselves into challenges and closing down spaces to deny any clear opportunities.

The result was sealed in the 88th minute when Vinod Pandey rose highest from a corner to head home, confirming ICL’s semi-final berth in emphatic fashion.

For IOT, the defeat marks the end of their title defence, as they are now mathematically out of contention despite having one playoff match remaining.

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With qualification on the line, Oranje entered the match knowing a win would confirm their semi-final berth, while Mumbai Ultras were fighting to keep their campaign alive following an opening playoff defeat.

The first half saw both sides show attacking intent, but it was Oranje who made their chances count. In the 29th minute, they were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the box, and Khatib stepped up confidently to convert, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Oranje the lead.

Oranje doubled their advantage just minutes later when Desai rose well to flick a header past the keeper in the 36th minute, putting his side firmly in control heading into the break.

Mumbai Ultras came out with urgency in the second half, knowing they needed a quick response to stay in contention. Their efforts paid off in the 57th minute when Shreyas Zele found the back of the net to reduce the deficit and spark hopes of a comeback.

However, Oranje held their shape and managed the game effectively, denying the Ultras any clear chances for an equaliser. The final whistle confirmed a crucial win for Oranje FC, securing their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.

For Mumbai Ultras, the defeat leaves their qualification hopes broken as they head into their final playoff fixture.

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Coming into the fixture, MYJ had been one of the standout sides in the competition, yet squad rotation ahead of their upcoming I-League 2 encounter meant several key players were rested. Hope United, on the other hand, capitalised on the opportunity and delivered one of their most complete performances of the season.

In a surprising shift from the usual pattern, Hope United controlled possession and dictated the tempo of the game, creating better attacking chances against a side known for its dominance. Their intent paid off in the 19th minute when Prawin Kumawat found the net with a well-placed effort at the near post to give Hope an early lead.

Hope continued to apply pressure and doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute after earning a penalty. Abhijit Tawhare stepped up and calmly converted, sending the goalkeeper the right way but placing it just beyond reach to make it 2-0 heading into halftime.

MYJ looked to respond after the break, knowing an early goal could shift momentum. However, Hope United remained resolute at the back, with their goalkeeper producing key saves to deny any comeback.

The game was effectively sealed in the 71st minute when Hope were awarded another penalty following a high challenge. Rishi converted confidently from the spot, once again finding the bottom corner to extend the lead to 3-0.

The result was overshadowed late on by an unfortunate injury to MYJ striker Himanshu Patil, who required immediate medical attention. The incident cast a somber note over the closing stages, with well wishes from both sides for his recovery.

The victory marks a strong return to form for Hope United, while MYJ register their first defeat of the season and concede three goals for the first time in the campaign. Focus now shifts to their upcoming I-League 2 fixture as they look to bounce back quickly.

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The first half saw both sides testing each other, with Reliance circulating the ball well and MYJ looking dangerous in attacking phases. The breakthrough finally arrived right on the stroke of halftime, when Umesh rose highest to head home from a well-delivered corner by skipper Kamlesh, giving MYJ a crucial 1-0 lead going into the break.

Reliance came out with intent in the second half and found their equaliser in the 53rd minute through Shyam, bringing the game back to life at 1-1. However, MYJ responded quickly and regained control just ten minutes later, as Arif restored the lead with a powerful header to make it 2-1.

With Reliance pushing forward in search of another equaliser, MYJ remained composed and struck decisively in the 74th minute. Arvinraj, continuing his fine form, headed home from a precise cross by new signing Kean Lewis to extend the lead and effectively seal the result.

The 3-1 win marks a strong start to MYJ’s playoff journey, reinforcing their status as one of the top contenders. Reliance FYC, on the other hand, will now look to bounce back in their remaining fixtures to stay in contention for a strong finish.

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