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After a goalless first half, Mumbai finally got the breakthrough on the 53rd minute when Karen tapped in from close range to put the host in front. Karen had came on for Rita Cassia Ukachukwu in the 41st minute and proved to be the difference between both the sides.

The last ten minutes was nothing but a roller coaster ride for Mumbai and Pune. The latter fought hard to get the equalizer, but Mumbai’s gritty defense and couple of decisive saves from Dhurva Vahia ensured their victory.

In the final moments of the game Durva confidently punched away Alisha’s long try and then she charged to the top of the box to foil Muriel Adam who was moving dangerously towards goal. Moments later, Mumbai defender Afreen Peerbhoy came up with a timely tackle to once again deny Muriel of having a shy at goal.

In the 10^th minute, Pune almost took the lead when Muriel’s header off Alisha’s free kick had goalkeeper Durva beaten, but to her dismay the ball bounced back of the horizontal bar.

After the change of ends, Mumbai had their first good attempt at goal when Shruti Lakshmi V.K. header off Juhi Shah’s free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Claire Johnson before Karen was introduced into the game.

The young striker Karen made her presence felt when she tapped in from close after Jyotika Singh’s try was blocked by goalkeeper Durva in the 53^rd minute to bring cheer to the Mumbai supporters and teammates.

Karen was also named as the player of the match for her decisive goal.

The Mumbai team received the ‘Champions’ Trophy and a cheque of Rs 15,000 from Chief Guest, Ms Freyan Bhathena, Editor in Chief, Afternoon Despatch & Courier; Guest of Honour, Mr. Shridhar Pathare, Branch Manager of LIC and MDFA Chairman, Shri Aditya Thackeray. Pune received the runners-up trophy and a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

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The scores were level at 1-1 at the end of the 60-minute regulation period before the Pune team successfully converted all their five attempts from the penalty spot. Nagpur captain Esther Kujur saw her attempt from the first penalty saved by Alisha Ranikhetwala, who stood under the Pune bar for the penalty kicks and that proved costly for them.

After Nikita Karmarkar with a long range effort put Nagpur in the lead in the ninth minute, but two minutes later, Pune who were more dominant restored parity through consistent scorer Smriti Girish who beat Nagpur goalkeeper Echa Sahare, who was outstanding in goal throughout the match.

Thereafter, Pune attackers relentless raided the Nagpur territory, but they were unable to break down the rival defence marshaled by stoppers Priyanka Lanjewar and Vinita Bhalari who made some timely tackles. Goalkeeper Echa also showed great anticipation and came up with some brilliant collections to restrict the Pune strikers to just one goal in normal time. She was, however, unable to make a single save in the crucial tie-breaker.

In the penalty shootout duel, Pune converted through Smithi Girish, Alisha Ranikhetwala, Hiba Faquih, Darshan Sanas and Muriel Adam, while Nagpur could only score through Nikita Karmarkar, Riya Sukhandane and Veshashri Pohane.

Pune will take on hosts Mumbai in the final to be played at the Cooperage ground on Friday, May 6 at 5.00 pm.

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After the change of ends, Thane totally dominated the proceedings with Namrata scoring the second and fourth goals, while teammate Akshaya Venkatgiri chipping in with the third to complete the winning tally.

In a Goup-B second round leg encounter, fancied Pune underlined their supremacy over Satara, by storming to another emphatic 11-0 victory. Pune had earlier recorded a 10-0 win.

Strikers Hiba Faquih, Murial Adam and Shristi Girish combined effectively scoring three goals each while Priyanka Murde and Alisha Rani Khetwala added one each to finish off the match.

Results – Group D: Thane 4 (Namrata Thakur 3, Akshaya Venkatgiri) beat Dhule 0.

Group B: Pune 11 (Hiba Faquih 3, Murial Adam 3, Shristi Girish 3, Priyanka Murde, Alisha Rani Khetwala) beat Satara  0.

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Inform Pooja Dhamal scored brace, whereas Rita Cassia Ukachukwu, Kimberly Fernandez and Akansha Khandalkar netted one each to register a comprehensive victory over a strong Kolhapur side.

It took Mumbai just three minutes to open the scoring when Pooja Dhamal scored from close range, fourteen minutes later she doubled Mumbai’s lead through a fine goal past Kolhapur’s goalkeeper Manali Bagdi.

Mumbai started to take the control of the match and pushed forward for a third goal. Just before the break Mumbai did managed to score their third. Rita Cassia Ukachukwu danced past her marker and swiftly found the back of the net to take Mumbai into the break with a three goal lead.

In the second half, Mumbai scored two more goals through Kimberly in the 32^nd minute and Akansha in the 45^th minute to wrap up the match.

Mumbai await the winners of the second semi-final which will be played at the completion of the second phase of the competition to be contested between teams from Group-B and Group-D and which commences at the Karnatak Sporting Association ground, from Sunday, May 1, 2016.

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Amravati who conceded 15 goals in their first match against Kolhapur once again had to suffer a thumping defeat which has surely end their campaign. Whereas, Osmanabad who had to play Mumbai again due to two teams backing out once again couldn’t stop Mumbai’s rampant performance as they lost 10-0 at KSA Ground in Mumbai.

Meanwhile at Goans ground, Kolhapur and Jalgaon played out a goalless draw in a pulsating match.

Gondia 22-0 Amravati

In a stellar display of free flowing attacking football, Gondia emerged as a clear winner against struggling side Amravati after thumping them 22-0 in the first match of the second day of Inter-District Senior Women’s Football Championship.

Tripti Deep who had also scored the lone goal in their opening match against Jalgaon smacked 12 goals to continue her stellar run of form to dismantle Amravati’s defense. Diksha Bansod 3,  Sonia Deep2

Her teammate Heena Yadav bagged five goals, Diksha Bansod netted a hat-trick and Sonia Deep got a brace to ensure their huge victory.

Mumbai 10-0 Osmanabad

The host once again proved superior against Osmanabad as they registered a 10-0 victory at KSA Ground. Mumbai had defeated Osmanabad 7-0 yesterday and had to clash once again as two teams backed out from their group.

Akanksha Kandalkar scored four past Osmanabad’s Goalkeeper Sheetal Kamble, Karen Pais got a hat-trick too whereas Kimberly Fernandez, Jyotika Singh and Karishma Vaziranj scored apiece.

Kolhapur 0-0 Jalgaon 

In a very pulsating match, Kolhapur and Jalgoan had to share the spoils as both the team played out a goalless draw at Goans ground.

Kolhapur had number of great chances in the first half but couldn’t capitalize in front of a strong defense of Jalgaon. The draw also gave Jalgaon their first point of this Championship.

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Yuva Sena leader, Shri Aditya Thackeray, Chairman of MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) inaugurated the tournament along with WIFA CEO, Henry Menezes, MDFA President Digambar Khandalkar and other executive members.

Mumbai 7-0 Osmanabad

Mumbai took on Osmanabad at Goans and comfortably registered a thumping 7-0 victory with five of the goals being scored in the second half.

Jyotika Singh could have opened the scoring for the host early in the game but her curling effort sailed wide off the right hand post. Few minutes later, Jyotika saw her powerful shot rattled the crossbar which gave Osmanabad a huge relief.

Mumbai’s Juhi Shah then scored a brilliant free kick to put the host in front just before Akanksha Kandalkar made it 2-0 from close range.

On the 34th minute, Karen Pais made it 3-0 for Mumbai as Osmanabad’s defender was caught napping inside the box. Women’s league player of tournament Kimberly Fernandez then scored her first and Mumbai’s fourth of the match to put the tie to bed.

Priya Tiwari, Pooja Dhamal and for the second time in the match, Kimberly scored in the dying minutes to ensure Mumbai’s victory.

Gondia 1-0 Jalgaon

In the second match of the Championship and the first of Group C, Tripati Deep helped her side to register a narrow victory over a hapless Jalgaon side.

Her first half strike proved to be the decisive goal as Jalgaon didn’t make enough of their chances to bounce back in the game.

Kolhapur 15-0 Amravati

Five goals from Prathiksha Mithari and hat-trick by Prithvi Gaikwad and Mrudul Shinde helped Kolhapur to register a thumping 15-0 victory against their counterparts Amravati in their Group game at KSA ground.

Seven of those fifteen goals were scored in the first-half as Kolhapur proved too superior in front of Amravati’s young side.

Akanksha Suryawanshi bagged a brace whereas Aishwarya Havaldar and Rutuja Suryawanshi scored apiece to mark a memorable victory in their first match of the Championship.

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