Defending champions Indian FC and Air India Colony will clash in the Men’s Open final of the 17th Kalina Football League 2017, organized by Our Lady of Egypt Parish Church Sports Committee and played at Our Lady of Egypt Church Parish ground, Kalina. Both the semi-final encounters witnessed intense contests and the outcome of the two ties was settled via the penalty shootout tie-breaker.
In the first semi-final, Air india Colony and FC Kolovery were engaged in a goalless draw at the end of regulation period. In the crucial tie-breaker the Colony side managed to scrape through by a 4-3 verdict. Sunder Pujara, Vinod Pandey, Rohit Varpe and Sachin Medar, all converted for the winners, while FC Kolovery could only score through Russel Galbano, Cedric D’Mello and Noom Rodrigues.
Meanwhile, Indian FC held their nerves to prevail over Kalina United 6-5 via the penalty shootout duel after the scores were level at 1-all at the full time whistle, in the second semi-final, which was also a close affair. In normal time Sheldon D’Souza was on target for Indian FC and Onkar Khambe scored for United. In the tie-breaker, Indian FC proved better marksmen as Tyson Pereira, Amit Karle, Pawan Rawat, Akshay Sonawane and Vikram Singh, all successfully scored from the penalty spot. Kalina United managed to score through Asif Khan, Monish D’Souza, Sai Khambe and Bunty Gowda.
Main League – Men Open (semi-finals): Air India Colony 4 (Sunder Pujara 1, Vinod Pandey 1, Rohit Varpe 1, Sachin Medar 1) beat FC Kolovery 3 (Russel Galbano 1, Cedric D’Mello 1, Noom Rodrigues 1) via the tie-breaker. Full-time 0-0.
Indian FC 6 (Sheldon D’Souza 1, Tyson Pereira 1, Amit Karle 1, Pawan Rawat 1, Akshay Sonawane 1, Vikram Singh 1) beat Kalina United 5 (Onkar Khambe 1, Asif Khan 1, Monish D’Souza 1, Sai Khambe 1, Bunty Gowda 1) via the tie-breaker. Full-time 1-1.