A very well diciplined performance from the policemen was their passport to the final where they face the high flying Air India U19 team who beat Mumbai Strikers 4-1 in their semi final match one day before. Amey Bhatkal’s heroics inspired the Air India comeback.

M.S.Police had a daunting task facing an undefeated Dena Bank side who managed to top their play off group. Anything short of perfect would have proved costly against the in form Dena Bank squad. And they had a dream start as their in form striker Nimket Dembre put them in front. A closely contested half saw the policemen hold their one goal lead. At halftime M.S.Police lead 1-0

The second half began in favor of M.S.Police as Swapnil Mane doubled their lead in the 49th min. From then on it looked like they had won the match. But Dena Bank fightback began and it was in the 80th minute, when Aazar Ansari netted the goal making it Dena Bank 1-2 M.S.Police. With 10 minutes to go, the match went through a cliff hanger. But it was Nimket Dembre who netted the all important third goal in stoppage time for the policemen securing the two goal cushion.

M.S.Police now face Air India u19 in the final of the MDFA Super Division for the title.

The post M.S.Police march into the MDFA Super Division play-off final with a 3-1 win over Dena Bank appeared first on Football Counter.

The opening 5 minutes of the first-45 minutes saw M.S Police force Millat F.C towards their own goal, but slight injury struggles early-on to a couple of M.S Police players broke the momentum, giving Millat F.C breathing space. Gaining their momentum back, in the 13th minute, M.S Police were presented with a fine opening to take an early advantage, but lack of communication from the players inside-the-box resulted in a missed opportunity.

Although, it didn’t take Maharashtra State Police away from taking a lead after imposing themselves on their opposition from the onset, and in the 14th minute of the game, Taufeek Sayyad’s perfectly guided free-kick from the right-side of the box met the towering head of Jitesh Pardeshi, whose header flashed past to Anas Ishke’s right-side, giving his side a deserved breakthrough and the former no chance whatsoever.

Soon, after the goal, it seemed evident Millat F.C were playing catch-up as M.S Police tried to strengthen its grip on the game and score a second-goal.

Amongst a host of chances from which M.S Police failed to convert, their best opportunity of the first-half came or was crafted in the 37th minute, when an acute pass from no.6 Bipim Jadhav to no.17 Sumeer Khan set the latter free on goal, but the no.17 could only find his shot hit the wrong side of the net.

The proceedings in the second-45 minutes started-off brightly for Millat F.C as a couple of lapses from M.S Police in their defence area invited early pressure from M.F.C, which the latter failed to get back into the game from. In the 53rd minute, M.S Police were presented with a glorious chance to double their lead, when a darting run down the right-flank and fine cross to the near-post area was somehow missed by Akshay Wadamble and Taufeek Sayyad, who managed to collide amongst themselves in an attempt to get their heads on the ball.

Greater Maharashtra Police doubled their lead in the 57th minute, when no.13 Taufeek Sayyad fed no.10 Himket Dembre with a perfectly weighted pass to set the no.10 through in on a one vs. one, the latter chipped the ball over goalkeeper to score a much needed second-goal.

With a win in their opening group (X) game, Greater Maharashtra Police has taken an important step closer to the book a semifinal berth as it comfortably positions themselves at the top of the group with 3 points.

The post Two goals in each half from Maharashtra State Police helped them overcome Millat Football Club appeared first on Football Counter.

Companeroes started well with most of the possession and attacking moves in the first quarter of the the game. In the 17th minute they had  a very good opportunity to open the scoring, when their left half Mudasir Ansari initiated a move and played a pass across to Reed Santos, who put the ball forward to Nikhil Pal for the finish but he squandered the chance as his shot went well over the bar.

Later the game took a turn as Companeroes took the back seat and  it was MSP who were in the driving position as they began to dominate the play. They come close to having the lead, when a direct long throw of Yukti Thombre was misjudged by Companeroes defender Jardin in the defence, laying the ball on a platter for MSP but Azhar Shaikh and Imran Shaikh clashed with each other as both of them went for the same ball.

Just two minutes late, another beautiful through ball by Faraz Shaikh set up Azhar for a one on one chance that was well intercepted by Companeroes goalkeeper Wren D’Abreo. MSP looked dangerous with every passing opportunity, in the 24 the minute they were unfortunate again as Nitin Warthi’s header from a corner kick taken by Faraz went straight into the hands of Wren D’Abreo.

It was the MS Police trio. Faraz Shaikh, Azhar Shaikh and Sandip Badkar who proved to be a deadly combination as they punished Companeroes for their mistakes. The cops finally went a goal up in the 41st minute though Azhar Shaikh, as he received a through ball from Sandip Badkar, this time he made no mistake to put his team in the lead.

The young Companeroes looked lost in the game and struggled to make any movement and conceded another goal late in the first half . Sandip Badkar and Faraz Shaikh’s combined effort did the trick for Police. Badkar started off with a good run from the centre and as he drew the defenders towards himself, he played the ball out towards Faraz, who sent the ball swirling into the top corner.

Second half started in entertaining fashion with Companeroes make shift striker Jardin Braganza being moved up from defence he looked menacing as he shook the MS Police backline. He began with a brilliant run towards goal after winning the ball from the Police half line but the MSP goalkeeper did well to block of Jardin’s attempt.

Another chance to get back into game went wasted, when an aerial ball from the right flank by Nikhil Pal was headed back across goal by  Mudasir Ansari it was Jardin again who latched onto the ball but his attempted header was over the bar.

Maharashta Police tried to relieve the pressure as they kept penetrating the Companeroes defence at regular intervals. Companeroes final attempt to reduce the margin came in the 73rd minute, when a through ball by Daniel D’souza opened up play for Aniket Shigvan but MS Police defender Jitesh Pardhi impeaded him earning himself a yellow card in the process and awarding a free kick to Companeroes right outside the box. With Reed Santos standing over the free kick, the expectation was that he would repeat the same feat as he did with a free kick against Dena Bank but this time it wasn’t to be, as he fired the ball straight into the MSP wall.

MS Police were still in a position to get more goals and that exactly happened in the 86th minute when the same 3 man combination worked for the Policemen. A throw in by Badkar towards Faraz was headed back to him and Badkar put in a pin point cross from the right flank that was tapped in by Azhar for his 2nd and the team’s 3rd goal.

The post Maharashtra State Police Punish Companeroes appeared first on Football Counter.

Kali Alaudeen scored the opener for Tigers just prior 3 minutes to half time. In spite of local support and advantage of playing on home soil could not turn the game for RCF.

In patches RCF did well and attempt few shots on target. Mumbai Tigers have dominated till the end and forced home to be on defensive mode. Bikash jairu’s brace in the 67th minute and 82nd minute goal with the neat header helps defending champion another step closer a match short of final.

Tomorrow’s 3rd Quarter finals Match: October 22nd’ 2013

INDIAN NAVY  v/s  MAHARASHTRA STATE POLICE
Match timing: 3.30 p.m ( 15.30 hrs )

The post Mumbai Tigers stun RCF in Nadakarani cup quarter final appeared first on Football Counter.