ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation) produced a strong, determined performance to share honours with fancied Mumbai FC in an exciting and well-contested Elite Division match of the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) League 2015-2016, and played at the Cooperage ground on Saturday afternoon. Kailash Patil for ONGC and Karan Sawhney for Mumbai FC got the goals, which were both scored in the first half.
Mumbai FC’s attacking midfielder N.P. Pradeep (no. 8) makes a run past two ONGC defenders during their MDFA Elite Division match
Mumbai FC, the lone club from the city participating in the I-League, encountered quite a stiff challenge from ONGC who did well to take the fight to the opposition camp and hit the target first. In the 20th minute ONGC’s reliable and dashing striker Patil capitalised on a half chance to head home from a free-kick to put his team in front.
However, ONGC’s lead was immediately neutralised by Mumbai FC when Sawhney after chasing teammate Eric Brown’s measured forward pass neatly lobbed over an advancing ONGC goalkeeper to net the equlaiser in the 24th minute.
In the second session, both teams tried to create openings and find the target, but their efforts failed to produce another goal and they had to settle for a draw and division of two points.
The next Elite Division match will be played between Kenkre FC and GM. Sports Club at the Cooperage on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 3.00pm.
Results – Elite Div: ONGC 1 (Kailash Patil 20th) drew with Mumbai FC 1 (Karan Sawhney 24th).