Reserve Bank of India hosted Century Rayon in the first semi-final of this year’s Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) Division 1 at St. Xavier’s ground, Parel on Thursday afternoon, 17th March, 2016.

Throughout the 90 minutes of football Century Rayon played they had control on the flow of the match, but a lackluster performance in-terms-of passing, decision-making and coming out on-top during one-versus-one situations in the final-third of the pitch cost them a place in the final.

A foul inside the 18-yard-box by Century Rayon’s Manish Mandloi, resulted in a penalty to R.B.I., which Abhishek Ambekar slotted past the trailing Century Rayon goalkeeper in the 40th minute.

Throughout the first-45 minutes of the match, Century Rayon played the role as a dominant side amongst the two teams, but fell-short on a majority of occasions to provide a structure to their attacking play around the opposition’s box.

The timing of the goal by R.B.I. proved to be a bigger blow for Century Rayon than the goal itself as the latter were favorites to progress going into the second-half of the proceedings if Century Rayon had not conceded the penalty.

By the time, Century Rayon gathered itself up, the first-45 minutes had come to a closure. Although, the Rayon’s started the second-half as brightly as the first-half, but having come agonizingly close to scoring an equalizer themselves as they left huge holes to be exploited by R.B.I. on the counter-attack, the former stumbled for the second-time in the 84th minute of the match to let slip-in a decisive second-goal for Reserve Bank of India.

The second goal as a result of a poor first-time clearance from a cross inside the box, which fell to Hriday Sethi inside the box, who half-volleyed the ball into the net to give his side much-needed breathing space as they patiently waited for their opportunities in the tussle, making the most of it, in the process.

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The second game of the day saw Reserve Bank of India clash against Dhobitalao Young Boys and to everyone’s expectations it was Reseve Bank of India who went on the front foot. Creating a host of chances in the opening 15 minutes of the game. They came very close to going in front and that moment came finally in the 17th minute when Rolfred scored a thriller of a goal. From almost ahead of a centre of the pitch curled one right over the keeper. The weight on the shot being perfect and the dip very accurate giving RBI the lead. And it did not take before they doubled their lead when Abhishek trapped a beautiful pass over the top with one touch and netted with the next touch making it 2-0. Dhobitalao Young Boys could manage only a handful of meaningful attacks on goal but still lacked the finishing touch. In the 36th minute Abhishek caught the Dhobitalao Boys defenders napping beating them with pace to score the 3rd goal for RBI putting the game to bed. Dhobitalao Young Boys managed to open their account when the cross in the box was headed awkwardly towards the goal which bounced right in front of it before a tap in from Mohsin Khan. At halftime RBI lead 3-1.

The second one to no one’s surprise saw RBI play the waiting game. They mixed it up with counter attacking football. Keeping a compact shape made sure Dhobitalao Young Boys do not find a foot hold in the game and thwarted their chance of a comeback. It was Abhishek A who scored the 4th goal from Reserve Bank of India in the 74th minute rounding off the scoring.

It puts RBI in pole position to go ahead from the play-off group with a compact team performance from the entire RBI cavalry.
For Dhobitalao Young Boys it looks a topsy-turvy road ahead but the mathematics could still favour them if they put in two impressive performances in the next two games.

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Along with the Reserve Bank of India – only against whom – Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious lost in the group qualified through to the play-offs. Goals from Aditya Raghavan in the 6^th minute and a 30^th minute goal from Shavez Surve meant Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious took a decisive 2-0 lead through into the 2^nd-half of the match. After much tussle, Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious’ no.13 Arijit Deb, who played his final game for the club wrapped up the victory in the 4^th minute of second-half of added time to complete a resounding 3-0 win over PIFA Colaba under-19.

The first-45 minutes football started off on a seemingly positive note for both sides, but Chheda Nagar came closer to taking an early lead and did so in the 6^th minute through Aditya Raghavan, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net from inside the 18 yard box. The remaining half was the exact portrayal of the second-half as PIFA Colaba under-19 committed men forward in search of an equalizer as they let themselves open to get exploited on the break. And, where Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious were comfortable defending deep, PIFA Colaba under-19 struggled to deal with the attacking pressure on the break and paid the price for it, when under a similar situation their defence fell apart to slip in another goal in through Shavez Surve in the 30^th minute. The half came to a closure with PIFA Colaba under-19 trying to work their way through, but failed to create and convert any real chance.

The second-half of the game started brightly for Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious, who carried on from where they concluded the first-half, when Shavez Surve missed out on a glorious headed chance from a corner on the near-post to extend his side’s lead to three. And after a hat-full of attacks from which Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious marginally failed to convert and some wayward decisions from PIFA Colaba under-19 in the final third which held their coach on the touchline shouting instructions spontaneously, it was Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious who came closer and closer to scoring the first goal in the second half of the game; in the 14th minute through no. 13 Arijit Deb’s fine effort on goal which was tipped over by the PIFA Colaba under-19 goalkeeper at the very last moment. As the half reached its midway point, PIFA under-19 urged its players to move forward in search on an opener to get something out of the game as they were in a position from where they would only lose by more. The chance came for PIFA under-19 in the 74^th minute, but it proved to be too little too late as they failed to convert from a glorious one-on-one chance. 2 minutes later Chheda Nagar Soccer Prodigious came close to scoring their third goal twice inside seconds when, first, Shavez Surve dragged his shot wide of the right hand post, second, when Shavez Surve again missed a chance to earn himself a potential hat-trick.

Arijit Deb who played his last game for the club stretched off in the final minute of normal time after sustaining a cramp, but went back on the field for the closing the minutes and got himself a farewell goal in the last minute of the game; wrapping up maximum points and a safe passage through to the play-offs.

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Sachin, Abhishek and Hriday got on the score sheet for Reserve Bank of India to comfortably register a easy win. Over the course of the match, Blitzkreig kept playing high line which benefited Reserve Bank of India.

The midfielders kept popping long balls over Blitzkreig defense and finally capitalized early in the match. It took the Bankers just 9 minutes to open the scoring. Sachin caught the defenders napping and comfortably placed his effort into the back of the net.

Reserve Bank of India dominated the whole match from thereon. Blitzkreig were finding it difficult to dispossessed Reserve Bank of India and on top of that Blitzkreig kept losing possession in midfield which allowed Reserve Bank of India to counter.

On the 34th minute, Reserve Bank of India doubled their lead through Abhishek who smashed his shot into the bottom corner to went into the break with a two goals cushion.

Reserve Bank of India’s Zeeshan could have tripled their lead, but his left footed shot struck the post. Zeeshan had a fine game as proved to be catalyst of Reserve Bank of India’s midfield.

He intercepted some key passes of Blitzkreig and it was his vision which benefited Reserve Bank of India for majority of the match.

Fifteen minutes into the second-half, Reserve Bank of India’s Hriday scored the third goal from Altaf’s delightful ball to put the final nail in the coffin. Hriday lashed his left footed shot into the bottom right corner to give Reserve Bank of India an all important three points.

Reserve Bank of India should have scored another in the late stages of the match, but Blitzkreig sat back avoid conceding any goals.

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