Kenkre FC scored in the final minutes of the match to snatch a tight 1-0 win against PIFA Colaba FC in an absorbing and evenly matched quarter-final of the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) Nadkarni Cup Football Tournament, organised and sponsored by RCF and played at the RCF ground, Chembur on Tuesday.
Just when the match seemed to be heading towards a goalless stalemate, Ivory Coast striker Yao Bernard fired home the all-important winning goal to secure the win for Kenkre and a passage to the semi-finals.
In the second match of the day, defending champions Air India proved far too superior for G.M. Sports as they charged to a massive 7-1 victory. Striker Mervin Stephen was the star of Air India’s big win by notching up a fine hat-trick. Aaron D’Costa scored a brace while Rugved Yeolo and Sunny Thakur added one each. Steve N’cho got the lone consolation goal for G.M. Sports late in the game.
Air India will meet Kenkre in Friday’s semi-final at 3.00 pm.
Results (1st round): Kenkre FC 1 (Yao Bernard 83rd) beat PIFA Colaba FC 0.
Air India 7 (Rugved Yeolo 23rd, Mervin Stephen 32nd, 45th, 82nd, Aaron D’Costa 49th, 57th, Sunny Thakur 78th) beat G.M. Sports 1 (Steve N’cho 88th).
At St. Xavier’s ground Parel – Div-I: ICL 2 (Ajay Kumar, Smit Koli) beat Das FA 1 (Aditya Jambhale).
Chheda Nagar Prodigies 2 (Suraj Holla, Gaurav Adhikari) beat Somaiya, Vidyavihar 0.