Playing with solid determination and showing better nerves, Mumbai FC Under-20 were crowned the champions of the MDFA organized Dr. Nitu Mandke Memorial Invitation Cup 2016 football tournament. Mumbai FC overcame fancied Air India Under-19 by a 5-4 margin via the penalty shootout tie-breaker after the title deciding match ended in a 1-1 draw at St Xavier’s ground, Parel.
The champions, Mumbai FC Under-20, which won the the MDFA organized Dr. Nitu Mandke Memorial Invitation Cup 2016 football tournament, are seen in a jubilant mood.
Earlier, the Mumbai FC colts got past ICL ‘A’ and HDFC on their road to the final whereas the Air India youngsters defeated Young Boys and Century Rayon in the previous rounds. The final lived up to its expectations after going till the penalty shootout. And Mumbai FC held their nerves to lift the trophy.
The final witnessed a grim battle for supremacy as the yuoungsters from both the teams played good attacking football and there was plenty of action throughout the match.
Mumbai FC went ahead with Prince Anandraj scoring from a well executed free-kick in the 9th minute. Air India pressed hard in the final minutes of the first half and they were successful in getting the equalizer when Sumesh Nair was left with the easiest of task to tap in after the over-lapping wing back Aashish Lalge had provided the pass.
In the second half, both teams continued to push for goals which proved elusive and the match went into the tie-breaker.
In the crucial penalty shootout duel, Mumbai FC found success through Dhurwesh Nijap, Raj Gurav, Prince Anandraj, Digvijay Yadav and Yogesh Kadam while for Air India, Aashish Lalge, Vinod Pandey, Gautam Medikonda and Pravin Mali could only convert.