Air India were the better team early on, gaining control of the possession and building up their attack patiently. They almost profited in the 5^th minute when Anees K. almost got on the end of Mervin Stephen’s cross. Three minutes later front man Siddharth Nayak ran at the defence, KSA managed to hault his progress but at the expense of a corner.

Air India almost scored from the play resulting from this corner as Anees K. headed wide after Siddharth Nayak had headed a cross back in his direction. Air India were very much on top as their front three were causing KSA all sorts of problems with their crisp, clever and quick play.

KSA had to wait for the 18^th minute for their first chance and it was a golden one as Nigerian striker Avihi Uchela found space and his shot hit the inner side of the bar, but to his misfortune it rolled away from the goal line before being cleared by the Air India defender. It was a warning  sign for the Air India defence about the threat posed by men in red & black.

Three minutes later, KSA again threatened when attacker Roger Sam latched on to a loose ball and burst away on the right flank but his shot was well blocked by the Air India defence.

Two minutes later, Air India were again asking questions at the KSA defenders after bombarding their penalty box with a series of crosses. But KSA had the answers as the game remained deadlocked. Air India had a good chance in the 26^th minute when Siddharth Nayak was played in by Anees K. who hit his shot in the ground allowing Kishen Sulegai to collect it with ease.

As the game crossed the half hour mark, a couple of injury lay offs took the spice out of the game as the chances dried up. Both the teams were looking to consolidate after a stop start pattern to the game. In the 35^th minute, it was that duo again for Air India as Siddharth Nayak headed wide after being found by a beautiful cross from Anees K.

Siddharth Nayak again found space inside the penalty box as he unleashes a shot from close range, but KSA goalkeeper Kishen Sulegai is up to the task as he parries the shot wide before the KSA defender clears the danger. Air India were tightening the screws as the half drew to the close but KSA held firm.

But it was not long before Air India broke the KSA resilience after as Siddharth Nayak found Mervin Stephen who skillfully lobbed the ball over the KSA goalkeeper into the far corner as Air India took the lead. It was an absolutely amazing finish from the Air India No. 9 Mervin Stephen  and the way the game had gone it needed that bit of quality to make the difference.

The goal came as a huge boost for Air India, as they peppered the KSA goal winning a corner three minutes into first half stoppage time. It was a huge blow for KSA as Air India converted the set piece through defender Wayne Vaz who headed home from close range as Kishen Sulegai’s attempt to collect the corner failed after he collided with his own defender.

An absolute catastrophe for KSA as they left themselves a mountain to climb in the second half against the Elite Division’s defending champions. It was important for KSA to get a spell of possession going their way which did not happen in the first half.

But there no signs of that at least in the opening minutes of the half as Air India bossed the possession again. Nine minutes into the restart, Siddharth Nayak was involved again as he miscontrolled a cross from the left, allowing Kishan Sulegai to pick up the pieces. He was forced into another good save a minute later. The KSA goalkeeper was having a busy afternoon.

KSA made a substitution in the 64^th minute after failing to get any kind of foothold in the game. KSA’s Tarique Ansari has a shot on goal after Air India fail to clear their lines two minutes later. Three minutes later KSA almost restoring parity Ryan K. is inches off from making a telling contact to a Valentine Perreira free kick.

Air India win a free kick just outside the box which is taken by substitute Vijith Shetty after a couple of clever dummies. He is inches over the crossbar as KSA remain in the hunt with just 15 minutes plus stoppage time left to play. Air India were controlling the game, keeping the ball well, frustrating KSA as time was running out for them.

Air India almost make it 3-0 in the 80^th minute when a late run is picked up by the Air India winger but the midfielder’s header is brilliantly parried on to the crossbar and over by the KSA goalkeeper. He was keeping KSA in the hunt as he produced another fine save to deny Raynier Fernandes who found space to shoot after a neat one two with his striker.

There are shouts for a penalty, five minutes from time KSA believe Avihi Uchela’s shot hit the Air India defenders’ hand. But the referee waves off the appeals. A minute later a long ball creates confusion in the Air India defence as they fail to clear the ball and it falls to striker Avihi Uchela who hits it first time and his shot rebounds in of the post to give KSA hope.

Uchela’s goal sets up a grand stand finish as, Air India had four more minutes plus stoppage time to hold on to their lead which had been halved. Air India held their nerve as they edged past KSA into the Quarter Finals where they will face PIFA Colaba.

It was fairly comfortable for Air India, until KSA struck late on to give them a scare, but overall Air India deserved the victory for bossing the game for long periods.

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PIFA dominated the match since the first whistle to the last. PIFA always looked a superior than BOI since they had most of the ball possession. PIFA with its good passing and better co-ordination among players created havoc in the defence of BOI, which seemed helpless against the wave after wave of PIFA’s attacks.

After the first ten minutes of the first half, there seemed a revival of energy from BOI but it failed to go past the defensive wall of PIFA.

The game’s first goal scored by Pramod Pandey, a marvellous header proved too much for Rajesh Bangera as it swirled past him to the top corner of the post. The goal came through a brilliant set piece of corner and Pandey.

The second goal came just before the half time by a left foot tap from Elvis Owozana. The half time could have helped the BOI to revive their chances to get back in the game but the dominant PIFA managed to hold BOI’s attack. PIFA’s Elvis continued his attack and tearing down of the BOI’s defence along with his striking partner Deep Moorjani.

The second half was similar to the first half where a visibly struggling BOI were trying to find the net. A counter attack by PIFA proved to be the nail in the coffin for BOI as Deep put a third goal past BOI goalkeeper, Bangera.  Later, Deep Moorjani was substituted by manager Nirvan Shah with Ajil Dalmodia.

The substitute did what the manager told him to do, put the pressure on the BOI defence and he did so by scoring the final goal of the match. Bangera managed to save a shot but the quick shot from Ajil put it past the keeper.

The match ended with a humiliating defeat for BOI. Both the managers must have different point of view against the game’s proceedings but at the end it was a disappointing BOI’s defence that put PIFA in the quarterfinals, PIFA will face the winner of Air India Vs Karnataka Sports Association (KSA).

Man of the Match: Elvis Owozana

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GMSC were much the better team in the first half and they were at it from the start, earning their first corner in the 5^th minute of the game after great bit of play on the right flank. GMSC had a swagger about their play, though much of it was down to the ineptness in MS Police’s game early on.

GMSC’s superiority was confirmed in the 10^th minute when GMSC’s Clifford Garett’s sublime lob was met by winger Tushar Poojari who drove inside the box to finish superbly from a tight angle to give GMSC the lead in the game they had totally bossed till then.

GMSC had the momentum and they threatened to drive it home when Michael Idewele broke clear of the MS Police defence, but their keeper did well by charging ahead and capitalizing on a loose touch to claim the ball.

MS Police conjured up their first opportunity in the 16^th minute of the game after some neat work on the left flank resulted in a shot which was brilliantly kept out by the GMSC keeper. The chance spurred MS Police on as they enjoyed their best spell of the game for the next 10 minutes as they searched for an equalizer.

GMSC had another opportunity at the half hour mark when striker Michael Idewele made a great run before the keeper made a fine save and stopped GMSC from doubling their advantage. But he had to be on his toes again four minutes later, as GMSC threatened again, when forward Hasan Golwal beat the offside trap only to be denied by Mohsin Khan’s heroics in goal.

Kamlesh Borkar of MS Police got injured and teams used this time to plan their substitutions which came to effect in the 41^st minute. It was a bit strange to see teams going for a change with minutes left for the conclusion of the first half.

Referee blew for half time with GMSC in the ascendency not just in terms of the scoreline but also in the number of chances and quality of play. MS Police threatened in patches but were clearly second best at the interval.

Second half started with a GMSC corner in the 48^th minute but was hit straight at the keeper. Two minutes later MS Police midfielder Taufiq Sayad put in a great cross and the shot from Sandip Badkar was saved by the GMSC keeper. A minute later first half substitute Amjad Khan dribbled his way past the GMSC defense into the box, sending in a teasing low cross in front of the gaping goal but unfortunately for MS Police there was no at the end of it.

MS Police made a strong comeback in the second half and suddenly it was all MS Police as Robin Kujur of GMSC got lucky twice after his weak tackle allowed MS Police’s Swapnil Mane to have a shot which went narrowly wide and later his clearance hit Mohsin Mohammed and the ball rebounded into the hands of the GMSC keeper. A few inches here or there and MS Police would have restored parity.

MS Police had turned the tables and were looking more and more threatening.  MS Police midfielder Taufiq Sayad beautifully laid it off for Amjad Khan who shot over. Amjad Khan was proving to be a master substitution as he was involved in every attack in the MS Police’s second half revival. GMSC tried to stem the flow of the MS Police attacks with chances of their own in the 65^th minute when striker Michael Idewele did well to get on the end of a pass, beat the keeper but could only shoot over.

MS Police brought on Himket Dembre in place of Sandeep Badkar in the 67^th minute and he almost made an instant impact after Azar Shaikh picked up Amjad Khan’s run, who put in another brilliant cross giving the substitute an easy tap in but he failed to control and shot over. This was the best chance for MS Police in the entire game and it was a poor miss from the substitute as GMSC clung on to their slender advantage.

Clifford Garett of GMSC was booked for time wasting but was lucky not to see further action after he jeered the referee after he was booked. GMSC were feeling the pressure as the game approached its closing minutes. With three quarters of the game up, MS Police had yet another opportunity when Mohsin Mohammed missed a free header after substitute Wagly precisely picked out the striker with a fine cross.

MS Police piled on the pressure, resulting in a free kick in a very encouraging position in the 80^th for them. But they totally wasted it as Azar Shaikh over hit it for a goal kick. MS Police were letting opportunities after opportunities pass by as time was quickly running out for them.

Seven minutes later MS Police were punished for their impotency in front of goal as GMSC doubled their lead through Michael Idewele as he cut the keeper to tap in an open goal after he had latched on to Hasan Golwal’s through ball.

As we thought the game was up, MS Police pulled one back after a brilliant move in the box gave Swapnil Mane a tap in and it was game on again as the referee signaled for five minutes of stoppage time. MS Police threw kitchen sink at GMSC but they held their nerve to knock MS Police out of the Nadkarni Cup and book a quarter final berth.

MS Police paid a heavy price for failing to convert a host of opportunities which came their way in the second half as their second half dominance went in vain and a more clinical GMSC prevailed in what was a thrilling game of football.

GMSC face Mumbai Customs in the last eight who, earlier in the day brushed aside Mumbai FC U-19 side 4-0 with a brace from Fransisco Salin and goals from Sajjad Alam and Deepak Irmali.

The post Great Mother SC See Off Wasteful MS Police To Book A Quarter Final Berth In The Nadkarni Cup appeared first on Football Counter.

Players – 5+2.

Winner- Rs. 10000.

Runners up- Rs. 6000.

Entry- 2000.

For further details please contact Aaron Abhishek- 900851310

League of legends Football Tournamenton 20th september, 2014

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