Opportunistic striker Ravish D’Souza’s double strikes helped a 10-man Mumbai Strikers pull off a narrow 2-1 win against State Bank of India in a Super Division match of the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) League 2016-2017, and played at the Mumbai Football Arena, Shahaji Raje Bhosale Kreeda Sankul-BKLP (Andheri Sports Complex) on Friday evening. D’Souza scored in the 7th and 70th minutes, while Kadam scored for State Bank in the 41st minute.
Mumbai Strikers were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute, when referee Abhishek Dey showed a direct red card to Melron Mascarenhas for violent conduct after he deliberately kicked State Bank’s Shailesh Poojari.
The Mumbai Strikers outfit was distinctly better organized as compared to the bankers and it did not take them too long to grab the initiative as D’Souza from a snap effort scored the opening goal in the seventh minute.
State Bank having the advantage of playing with an extra man managed to draw level with Kadam scoring in the 41st minute and go into the break on level terms.
Mumbai Strikers continued to put up a dogged performance and created quite a number of forays towards the rival citadel and from one such move in the 70th minute D’Souza once again capitalized on a half chance to score the second goal, which secured their win and the three points.
Results – Super Div: Mumbai Strikers 2 (Ravish D’Souza 2) beat State Bank of India 1 (Sunny Kadam).