Hosts Mumbai proved too strong for Kolhapur as they stormed to a convincing 5-0 win in a semi-final match, of the LIC-Maharashtra State Inter-District Senior Women’s Football Championship -2016, organized by MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) and played at the Cooperage ground, on Saturday. Mumbai led 3-0 at the end of the first half in the 60-minute encounter.
A Mumbai striker tries to get past a Kolhapur defender (orange) during their semi-final match of the LIC-Maharashtra State Inter-District Senior Women’s Football Championship -2016, (Photo By : Khyati Bohra).
The highlight of the Mumbai victory was striker Pooja Dhamal who scored a brace of goals. She was well supported by teammates Rita Cassia Ukachukwu, Kimberly Fernandez and Akansha Kandalkar, all contributing a goal each to complete the win.
The home team started with a bang and rocked the Kolhapur citadel with Pooja bulging the net in the very third minute. Pooja was once again on target when she coolly tapped home after Akansha had done the spadework in the 17th minute. Ten minutes later Rita added the third goal as Mumbai went into the break with a healthy 3-0 advantage.
After the change of ends, Mumbai scored two more goals through Kimberly in the 32ndminute and Akansha in the 45th 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.
Results – Semi-final: Mumbai 5 (Pooja Dhamal 3rd, 17th, Rita Cassia Ukachukwu 27th, Kimberly Fernandez 32nd, Akansha Kandalkar 45th) beat Kolhapur 0.