Pune FC U-19 came into the game knowing a win would seal their progress to the next round and having thrashed today’s hosts in the reverse fixture, Pune FC were the favorites to leave Mumbai with all three points. PIFA Colaba U-19 on the other hand were still looking for their first win of the competition, and only had pride to play for apart from avoiding the embarrassment of finishing last in the group.

The first half had a good tempo to it and the hosts were able to match their visitors for majority of the opening exchanges. Pune FC however began to take control of proceedings and putting pressure of PIFA Colaba who still had the wounds from last time’s meeting with Pune FC fresh.

As the game crossed the half hour mark, the hosts started believing in themselves and came close to taking the lead in the 30th minute through a set piece. But it was the visitors who ended the half on the front foot.

Arif Shaikh was played in on goal in the 40th minute, but he could only manage to send his shot wide. It was a great chance for the visitors to go in front. They nearly did so a minute later when they hit the crossbar.

Pune FC were beginning to string together some nice moves and the best of which nearly resulted in the opening goal for Pune FC when Myron Mendes broke free into the PIFA box after a beautifully crafted move from the visitors, but his shot was crucially saved by the PIFA Colaba goalkeeper, to ensure his side head into half time level.

It was the visitors who had the better of the first half, but hosts PIFA Colaba did have their moments especially as they got some joy from set piece situations.

Pune FC came storming out in the second half pegging PIFA Colaba deep into their half. Pune’s Arif Shaikh nearly gave them the lead when his header from a Prakash Sarkar cross went inches over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Pune FC made the breakthrough after Farukh Choudhary did well to latch on to a long ball as he was through on goal to lob over the PIFA goalkeeper to put the visitors in front.

The goal seemed to have opened the floodgates as Pune doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute after they were awarded a penalty which was coolly converted by Myron Mendes.

Pune FC were peppering the PIFA Colaba goal as PIFA were hanging on to stay alive in the game. Pune FC had many chances to extend their lead but some wayward shooting form their front men meant the score remained 2-0 as we entered the final twenty minutes.
Pune FC though made their dominance count, adding a third goal in the 71st minute, thanks to a cracking effort from Altamesh Sayyad from twenty five yards. It was a brilliant finish from the Pune FC midfielder.

PIFA’s night turned from bad to worse as the PIFA goalkeeper rushed off his line, but failed to collect allowing Farukh Choudhary to get his second of the game as he put the ball in the empty net to make it 4-0 in the favor of the visitors just a minute later.

PIFA Colaba changed their goalkeeper and he was involved straight away as he came long way off his line to block a goal bound effort. The rebound fell kindly to a Pune FC offender whose shot was heroically blocked by the PIFA Colaba defender in the 80th minute.

Two minutes later Pune FC scored again with Altamesh Sayyad getting on the act again as Pune were among the goals yet again at Cooperage.

PIFA Colaba avoided further embarrassment as. they stopped a relentless Pune FC from adding another one as referee blew for full time.

Pune FC produced a brilliant second half display as PIFA Colaba failed to live with them. The win eliminates Kenkre FC and takes Pune FC to the top of the Maharshtra Qualifying Zone table of the U-19 I-League.

PIFA Colaba remain bottom after their fifth defeat of the competition.

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The draw means, Kenkre leave themselves way too adrift of second placed Pune FC U-19 with just two games to play.

Kenkre FC needed a win to keep their chances alive in this competition, while PIFA Colaba were looking for their first win in this year’s competition in a bid to get off the foot of the table.

They nearly took a step in that direction, when Amey Bhatkal sent a header crashing against the crossbar in the 5th minute. Unfortunately, the PIFA player who met the rebound was offside as Kenkre FC got off the hook.
Two minutes later, Kenkre added insult to injury for PIFA Colaba as they took the lead through as Rohan Dalvi headed home a cross from Kenkre’s right flank. The Kenkre FC forward was totally unmarked near the six yard area as he punished PIFA Colaba for poor marking.

PIFA Colaba nearly responded in the 15th minute, as Pragnesh Solanki sneaked in behind the Kenkre FC defence and fire a shot at goal which was brilliantly cleared off the line by the retreating Kenkre FC backline. The rebound fell kindly to Pragnesh Solanki as the Kenkre FC defenders denied him for a second time to clear the danger.

Four minutes later, Kenkre FC nearly doubled their advantage as Yash Mhatre headed straight at the PIFA goalkeeper after he was picked out from a Kenkre free kick near the center circle. PIFA Colaba were nearly made to pay again for their poor marking.
As the game progressed PIFA Colaba started getting into the game. The men from Colaba were now dictating majority of the play, but without working the Kenkre goalkeeper.
Kenkre’s Atif Shaikh brilliantly went past PIFA’s last man in the 37th minute, but his final effort was weak as it went tamely wide of the goal. It was another opportunity missed by Kenkre to double their lead before the interval.

Kenkre held that slender lead as they went into half time leading after a very even first half’s play. PIFA Colaba showed plenty of promise, but Kenkre FC clearly edged them in terms of chances created.

Kenkre’s first half misses proved to be costly as PIFA Colaba equalized, four minutes from the restart, as Pragnesh Solanki tapped in from close range after the Kenkre keeper had parried an effort from Amey Bhatkal in his path. It was a good move from PIFA as Amey Bhatkal was nicely set up to shoot after a cut back from their right wing.

Kenkre FC nearly regained the lead in the 55th minute when Abuzer Beg brilliantly broke free of his marker to shoot from a tight angle. Unfortunately for Kenkre FC his shot went wide after kissing the upright on its way.

Kenkre FC threw Sekhar Bhattacharya into the fray replacing Rohan Dalvi. That nearly did the trick in the 71st minute when, Sekhar Bhattacharya’s struck the upright after latching on to the loose ball resulting from a fine save by the PIFA goalkeeper from Yash Mhatre’s shot.

It was all Kenkre as we entered the last quarter of the game, as they chased the all-important winner. Yash Mahtre nearly got them the winner in the 82nd minute when he was through on goal, but his chipped effort went just over the crossbar. A minute later Abuzer Beg blasted his effort just over the crossbar after finding plenty of space to unleash a shot.
As Kenkre threw more and more men forward, PIFA nearly punished them on the break, but were denied by some brave goalkeeping by the Kenkre shot stopper.

The game was getting very intense as we entered the final five minutes of the game. There was an urgency in Kenkre FC’s play as they went in search of a winning goal as PIFA were looking for some joy on the break. There was plenty of support for Kenkre FC in the house as they cheered Kenkre FC on in the final few minutes.

Faizan Thange missed a glorious chance to give Kenkre the three points in stoppage time as he fired a shot from close range straight at the PIFA Colaba goalkeeper.

It proved to be a costly miss as the referee signaled the end of the game as Kenkre FC were held for the second time in the competition by PIFA Colaba. The Kenkre players lied down in agony after the game as they knew their chances of qualifying from the group were very much over.

PIFA Colaba produced a good display to earn themselves a point which takes them just within a point of Mumbai FC as they look to move off the bottom of the table.

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The 5 pm game began with a flurry of activity with Mumbai FC dishing out a decent attempt on goal just as the 1st minute was underway, unfortunately the ball landed directly into the safe hands of the goal keeper.

Mumbai appeared to be in a hurry to dominate the proceedings and tried for goal again in the 3rd minute to be denied again.

A change of pattern was then seen in the 14th minute with a particular Kenkre shot just running past wide of the goal. Come the 25th minute, Kenkre’s Karan Dave superb free kick landed the ball in the space near the box but the team failed to capitalize on this golden opportunity, courtesy- Mumbai defence.

The best attempt of the first half came in the 27th minute from the Kenkre, Abuzer Beg tried to cave in the ball in the top right corner. It should have gone in!

When the referee blew the whistle for half time, either of the teams had not opened their account!

The second half kicked off under lights, Kenkre started attacking with renewed vigour and energy.

The Mumbai goalkeeper dived ahead to close in on yet another shot from Kenkre in the 50th minute. However, he was unable to repeat the same feat a couple of minutes later when Kenkre’s Kenneth Fernandes tapped in the ball cleverly to Rohan Dalvi for an easy finish on the goal.

High on confidence, the Kenkre team subsequently launched two more shots on the goal in the 55th and the 62nd minute just meters wide of the post.

After a long span, Mumbai eventually managed to create some space but Suraj Negi failed to provide a good cross in front of the goal thus crushing the hope for an equalizer.

Faizan Thange was brought in by Kenkre on the 74th minute for the goal scorer Rohan Dalvi. A power house of energy, the substitute Faizan straight away went for the target in 77th minute but the rival Mumbai goalkeeper who was at a risky distance from the goal managed to shield his territory and prevent a goal.

While Kenkre quite effortlessly pushed back Mumbai with long spells of possession, Mumbai did win a rare free kick in the 86th minute and the No.8, Prince Anandraj aimed for the goal but missed by a whisker on the top left corner.

Riding on a counter attack, Kenkre’s Faizan struck the ball from a distance and it kissed the nets for what was a very clinical finish.

The score line now read 2-0 in favor of Kenkre FC. Despite, 4 minutes of added time, Mumbai FC were able to make no amends as the referee blew the final whistle with Kenkre emerging victorious.Oscar Alva, coach of Kenkre FC did point out the team had indeed been practicing very hard in the practice sessions and an ‘overall effort of attack, midfield, defence and the goalkeeper led to a well deserved victory.’

Kenkre on the third spot in the team standings with 8 points next meet PIFA Colaba while Mumbai are placed right beneath them in the table with a meager 3 points and an extra game played.

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The ‘Men from Merseyside’ saw their side knock three past PIFA Colaba at Cooperage in a 3-0 victory, as we took the opportunity to speak with the very focused at the same time very pleasant David Rogers and Michael R.
The duo has taken great efforts to carve out the DSK Shivajians outfit, which have had a cracking debut so far. A humble Michael R. gave credit to his players and complimented their hard work for their success so far. “It’s all down to training and training hard and the boys work really hard and fortunately for us the results are showing, but we need to continue with the good work as there is a long way ahead.”

Despite their team having strolled through the group so far, David Rogers believes there is a good level of competition for his side and it’s tough to win games. “The League is really competitive. Teams are trying to play football, just like us as we try to get the ball down and play. It’s tough as these players haven’t been together for too long. But the level is really good and the clubs are trying to do all the right things”.

The management team is already looking forward to the next stages. The duo is planning to watch a few more teams play in the other groups, to ensure that they do not leave anything behind in terms of preparation.

“We have watched the teams in this group and me and Michael plan to watch some more from the other groups too. We are very happy with the challenge our boys will face in due course. It’s going to be tough as all the teams are improving and it will improve even further as we progress”, said David Rogers.

DSK Shivajians have scored 19 goals in their five games so far this season, and that has been down to the high amount of possession that the DSK Shivajians hold. Building up from the back, patience added to good technical skill has resulted in the men from Pune build a brand of football of their own in this competition.
Miachael R. spoke about bringing the training methods and techniques used at Liverpool at DSK. “We are trying to bring the philosophy back home an implement it here. The coaching aspects and the training methods are being implemented as they are at Liverpool and it’s paying off. We are working hard on our passing game, working hard to build from the back. We are trying to gel this team and get them talking and hard work pays off”.

David Rogers stressed upon Michael R’s thoughts and highlighted the importance of development of these players. “We are trying to implement the right ways as we do in our academy in Liverpool. But we don’t want to put them under any kind of pressure. We want them to develop and learn the right way and the kids are responding to it. It’s very important to have an atmosphere where they enjoy themselves which will help them develop in the right way, the Liverpool way and they are doing that. So we are very satisfied with what we are seeing”.

David Rogers thinks his side has exceeded expectations of many, but he believes in his team’s ability.

“We may have exceeded expectation here, but we know what our kids are capable of. They are a great bunch, a humble bunch and brilliant for me and Michael to work with. Every day on the training pitch, we are trying to develop them and they are responding really well”.

Moving on from footballing pitch, the Men from Merseyside have loved life in India. Be it food or the locals, everything here has left David Rogers in ample awe. “The life here is fantastic. I love the country. The people here are really nice, very friendly and always ready to help you out with anything. I love the food anyways, so that has helped”.

Michael R. who has been here much before David arrived has similar things to share when it comes to country. “It’s brilliant, this place. The people are lovely and the facility back at DSK is absolutely fantastic and makes you feel at home”.

It has to be said that David Rogers and Michael R. have done a wonderful job at DSK. Their side is not just racking up the goals and points, but a lot of fans with their brilliant football which this country’s junior level has been crying out for.

DSK Shivajians are certainly a breath of fresh air in Indian Football at the moment and we hope to see them more often on the Indian Footballing scenario.

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DSK Shivajians came into this game in red hot form having won all the four games in the groups with an average of four goals per game. PIFA Colaba on the other hand were looking to bounce back from narrow defeat at the hands of Mumbai FC.
It was a fairly even opening period with both teams finding their feet in the game. But on 18 minutes DSK Shivajians struck as Lallianzuala B. Sohtun scored past the PIFA goalkeeper after being cleverly picked out by Mawihmingthang through a threaded through ball.

PIFA nearly responded two minutes later when Pramod Kumar Pandey made a brilliant leap to head goalwards but the DSK goalkeeper was upto the task as he collected neatly. Good goalkeeping from the visiting goalkeeper.

DSK started to push PIFA back with long spells of possession. They nearly scored a perfect goal when Lallianzuala B. Sohtun headed over after a brilliant and patient play from the visitors, with the move consisting of 20-25 passes before the final attempt.

DSK were turning on the style as Biaklian Paite and Chhangte Lalhriatpuia played a brilliant one two to open up the PIFA defence. But they were bailed out by the linesman who flagged for offside in the 29th minute.
Two minutes later, DSK strung together another brilliant move, which resulted in a cross from the right wing falling to Mawihmingthang whose sjot was deflected for a corner.

DSK were building from the back and showed great patience. Mawihmingthang was involved yet again when he was played through on goal but was denied by a brilliant save from the PIFA Colaba goalkeeper in the 31st minute.

Despite all the DSK dominance, they just led by a solitary goal. PIFA seemed to have weathered the storm and were pressing well to deny DSK spaces to play into as the game entered the final ten minutes of the half.

DSK were nearly jolted, as PIFA’s Deepak Mahindra ran into the DSK box totally unmarked and nearly got on the end of a cross from PIFA’s left flank, but for a timely intervention from the DSK goalkeeper Jeddi Haokip.

PIFA seemed to gain confidence from the chance as they started seeing more of the ball. Goal scorer Lallianzula B. Sohtun was booked for a professional foul as he brought down a counter attacking PIFA player who was running into the open spaces in the DSK half due to the visitors throwing players forward for a corner.

DSK’s goal was disallowed in the 44th minute for offside. It was yet another brilliant move from DSK Shivajians as they went into half time a goal to the good.
DSK were dominant team in the first half having controlled most of the play and creating plenty of chances to score, although they were guilty of overcooking the moves at times. PIFA did well to be just a goal behind and showed signs of threat in an absorbing half of football.

DSK struck early in the second half, with a goal in the 48th minute as Lallianzuala B. Sohtun got his second of the evening. It was a brilliant finish from the DSK No.75 as he coolly finished past the PIFA goalkeeper after after latching on to a chipped delivery from midfield.

It was a cruel blow for the home side so early in the half as DSK started to dominate again. Lallianzuala B. Sohtun who was looking for his hat-trick fired a free kick just over the crossbar in the 64th minute.

DSK replaced Biaklian Paite by Joel Fernandes in the 71st minute as the visitors pursued a third goal to kill the contest.
PIFA Colaba nearly pulled a goal back in the 78th minute, only to by a fine save from Jeddi Haokip, as he tipped over a cross which threatened to go in.

PIFA threw Pawan Singh into action in the 83rd minute, looking to reduce the deficit. But all the hopes of a PIFA Colaba revival were ended in the 84th minute when Lallianzuala B. Sohtun completed his hat-trick with a thumping strike from outside the box which flew past the PIFA goalkeeper.
In the 87th minute, Mawihmingthang’s effort took a horrible deflection, but fortunately for the hosts it flew wide of PIFA’s goal.

Mawihmingthang’s effort in the second minute of added time goes inches wide of the PIFA goal as DSK see off the remaining minutes to bag yet another victory in the Maharashtra Qualifying Zone of the U-19 I-League.

PIFA Colaba did well to be competitive against the best team of the group, but fell well short in the end.

DSK Shivajians head coach David Rodgers was happy to leave Cooperage with all three points as he believed his players had won a tough game.” It was a tough game. We played PIFA at home and won quite comfortably, but we always knew coming here would be a different challenge with their home support behind them and it turned out to be that way. But we are delighted we won and we will take it ahead from here”.

DSK Shivajians are top of the charts with five wins in the Maharashtra Qualifying zone of the U-19 I-League.

The post DSK Shivajians too strong for PIFA Colaba as they maintain their 100 percent start in the U-19 I-League appeared first on Football Counter.

Mumbai FC were looking for a second straight win in the Maharashtra Qualifying zone as they faced a strong Pune FC side which had got the better of today’s hosts in the reverse fixture last month.

Mumbai FC began well, as Prathamesh Rokade missed a great chance to put them in front in the 6th minute after being played in on goal by Girik Khosla’s long ball, but the Mumbai FC forward put his effort wide.

Mumbai FC were trying to expose the Pune FC backline, who were holding a high line, with a lot of direct stuff. The Mumbai FC strikers were having plenty of joy running behind the Pune FC defence in the opening ten minutes. But as the game went on, Pune FC started getting more and more into the game, as they forced a save out of the Mumbai FC goalkeeper Nishant Shetty from Chesterpoul Lyngdoh who was played in on goal by Arif Shaikh in the 18th minute.

The latter put Pune FC in front three minutes later as he brilliantly headed a cross from Asheer Akhtar from Pune’s right flank. It was a brilliant move from the visitors as the home side’s bright start went in vain.
The goal settled Pune FC as they gained complete control of proceedings around the half hour mark. Pune FC were probing at the Mumbai defence, as the hosts were struggling to cope with the growing pressure. In the 35th minute Prince Anandraj was guilty of giving the ball away but he got lucky as Pune FC striker Aniket Jadhav slipped just before unleashing a shot at the Mumbai goal.

Prince made up for his initial error as he made a brilliant clearance in the 38th minute, preventing Arif Shiakh to double Pune’s lead. But the visitors were not be denied in the 43rd minute when Farukh Choudhary played in Sannik Murmu who fired past Nishant Shetty to make it 2-0.
Pune FC were full value for that two goal lead, as they went into the break firmly in the driver’s seat.

The second half started in similar fashion as Pune FC dictated the play. But Mumbai FC managed to stem the flow of chances in the first ten minutes since the restart.

In the 58th minute, Chesterpoul Lyngdoh nutmeged the Mumbai FC left back to drive past him as the left back brought him down in the box with a clumsy tackle from behind as the referee had no hesitation in awarding the visitors a penalty.

Myron Mendes stepped up, but his effort was brilliantly saved by the Mumbai Fc goalkeeper Nishant Shetty. Pune FC eventually got their third goal four minutes later, as Arif Shaikh send a looping header over the covering defender and into the net after Mumbai FC failed to deal with a long ball and allowed it to bounce in the box.
With the game virtually in the bag, Pune FC turned on the style as Altamesh Sayyd’s effort was saved acrobatically by Nishant Shetty in the 67th minute.

Pune FC made it 4-0 in the 71st minute, as Asheer Akhtar unleashed an unstoppable drive, which flew into the top corner. It was to be the pick of the goals in the game.

Altamesh Sayyad was denied yet again seven minutes later as his dipping effort came off the crossbar from which Chesterpoul Lyngdoh’s effort too hit the crossbar. He got injured in the clash with the Mumbai FC goalkeeper and had to be stretched off with a check bone injury. It was a nasty blow the Pune FC No.10 had taken as he was rushed to a hospital

Mumbai FC pulled one back through Nachiket Palav in the 81st minute after he slotted home from close range after the ball fell in his path resulting from a confusion in the Pune FC defence.

But there was no further joy for the hosts as Pune FC restored their foul goal lead two minutes later with Arif Shaikh completing his hat-trick after pouncing on a howler from the Mumbai FC center back.

Pune FC capped a fantastic night with yet another goal in the first minute of added time as Dimple Bhagat drove into the box from defence to drill a low shot past the goalkeeper to make it 6-1 in Pune’s favor.

The referee blew the final whistle as Mumbai FC were humiliated on their own patch as a scintillating Pune FC side took them to the cleaners thanks to a fantastic hat-trick from Arif Shaikh.
This was Mumbai FC’s fifth defeat of the campaign as their hopes of qualifying were ended.

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