Mumbai FC Under-19 showed plenty of flair, good skills and combined effectively to record an impressive 2-0 win against a spirited Central Bank of India in a first round match of the 110th RCF-Nadkarni Cup football tournament, organized by RCF Sports Club under the aegis of MDFA and played at the RCF Colony ground, Chember on Monday afternoon.
Mumbai Customs striker Rinaldo Fernandes controls ball as a Central Railway defender closes in during their first round match of the 110th RCF-Nadkarni Cup football tournament.
Playmaker Patrick Mascarenhas played a key role by creating two fine chances which were converted by his teammates Umesh Perambra (45th minute) and Sohail Khatri (65th minute) and which fashioned Kenkre colts win. Central Bank started well and created quite a few openings and wasted a couple of easy sitters initially and those lapses proved to be costly and which to their downfall as the youngsters gained in confidence and took the game away.
The first goal came about when Mascarenhas’ swerving flag-kick was well-connected by Perambra from close and ensured the young Mumbai FC went into the break with a slender lead. Mumbai FC continued to hold an edge and doubled the lead when perfect free-kick from Mascarenhas bounced off the horizontal bar but Khatri darted in an headed home.
Later in another first round encounter, Mumbai Customs were made to work hard for the 3-1 win against a determined Central Railway. Customs seasoned striker Francisco Salin scored the opening goal in the 7th minute and netted the third at the death to complete the win. In between those two goals, Rinaldo Fernandes got the second in the first minute of additional period of the first half. Central Railway pulled one back when Sumesh Nair converted a penalty in the 69th minute.
Customs and Mumbai FC Colts will clash in Wednesday’s quarter-finals.
In Tuesday’s quarter-final matches, ONGC face off against Century Rayon at 1.30 pm followed by the match between Air India and Karnatak SA at 3.30 pm.
Results (1st round): Mumbai FC Under-19 2 (Umesh Perambra 45th, Sohail Khatri 65th) beat Central Bank of India 0.
Mumbai Customs 3 (Francisco Salin 7th, 90+4th, Rinaldo Fernandes 45+1st) Central Railway 1 (Sumesh Nair 69th-pen).