A fit and disciplined Indian Navy completed a hat-trick of triumphs, by clinching the MDFA Independence Cup football tournament for the third successive year. The Navy outfit for the third straight time, defeated Western Railway 7-6 via the sudden death tie-breaker in the final played at St. Xavier’s ground, Parel on Monday evening. The matched ended in a 1-1 draw and was locked 4-all in the tie-breaker.
The victorious Indian Navy team, winners of the MDFA Independence Cup at the St. Xavier’s ground, Parel.
Indian Navy were better organized and called the shots from the start. But it was Western who drew first blood when Ravinkant Naidu scored from a snap effort just before the end of the first session.
The Navy outfit came back strongly after the break and managed to draw level when striker Anoop Pauly cashed in on a lapse by the Western defenders to net the equalizing goal and take the game to the tie-breaker.
In the crucial penalty shootout battle, Navy successfully converted through Sunil Naik, Wayne Vaz, V. Lalchhuanmawia, Bibake Thapa, Akash Kamble and Shahir S. to emerge champions. Western could only score through Ravikant Naidu, Linekar Machedo, Merwin F., Avinash D., Charanjeet Singh, while Somi P.T. shot wide and Prabal Chakrobarty’s try was saved by Navy goalkeeper Bhaskar Roy.
Earlier, the outcome of both the semi-final encounters, were decided via the penalty shootout. Indian Navy overcame Central Bank of India 9-8 in a tense sudden death penalty shootout after the match ended in a goalless draw. The second semi-final between Western Railway and Mumbai Customs also finished in a goalless draw before the Railway outfit, showed better nerves in the penalty kicks duels to pull off a 3-1 win.
The victorious Indian Navy players received the Independence Cup and the cash prize of Rs 30,000 from Chief Guest, Digambar Khandarkar, President, MDFA and Western Railway were presented with the runners-up trophy and a cash award of Rs 20,000. Ravikant Naidu was later adjudged ‘Player of the final’ and received a cash award of Rs 2,000 and a voucher for a 2-day stay in Prazeres Resort in Goa, which was sponsored by Sellebrity SC.
Results – Final: Indian Navy 7 (Anoop Pauly, Sunil Naik, Wayne Vaz, V. Lalchhuanmawia, Bibake Thapa, Akash Kamble, Shahir S.) beat Western Railway 6 (Ravikant Naidu 2, Linekar Machedo, Merwin F., Avinash D., Charanjeet Singh) via the sudden death tie-breaker. Full-time: 1-1.
Semi-finals: Indian Navy 4 (Wayne Vaz, Sunil Naik, Akash Kamble, Bibake Thapa) beat Air India 3 (Santosh Koli, Prakash Thorat, Aaron D’Costa) via the tie-breaker. Full-time : 0-0.
Western Railway 3 (Avnash D., Mervin F., Ravikant Naidu) beat Mumbai Customs 1 (John Coutinho) via the tie-breaker. Full-time: 0-0.
Quarter finals: Indian Navy beat Union Bank of India 1-0.
Air India beat HDFC 5-0.
Mumbai Customs beat Central Bank of India 9-8 (via the ti-breaker – full-time 1-1).
Western Railway beat Kenkre FC 1-0.