Putting up a dominant display, Delhi FC beat Mohammedan SC cliched the maiden Hero Futsal Club Championship crown on November 13. They thrashed Mohammedan 7-2 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
Both teams each had a fine run on the road to the final. On one side, Delhi FC defeated Odisha’s Mangala Club 12-7 in their semi-final game. On the other side, Mohammedan SC grabbed a 2-0 win against Bengaluru FC to book their berth in the final.
Delhi FC skipper Nikhil Mali was the standout performer in the final. Mali was explosive, netting 5 times which added and took his total count to 24 goals in the tournament. He wrapped with the honor of bagging a minimum of 3 goals in every game.
Delhi FC start and end strongly vs Mohammedan SC
The side from the capital city bossed proceedings from the first whistle. They were handed their initial opportunity of the game in the opening minute. Captain Mali put his MSC peer, Mihir Sawant, to the test with a venomous shot at his near post. Sawant did manage to avert the ball away and hold off an early setback. However, Peka shortly found the back of the net give his team the 1-0 advantage.
The match’s first quarter witnessed both sides use a high press. Delhi FC unleashed a flurry of attacks but the side from Kolkata did well to stand firm. Creating an instant effect was Jayesh Sutar. He was solid on the pitch for the Black Panthers, keeping Mali quiet and was the initiator for Mohammedan’s attacks.
Not suprisingly, Sutar was the one who engineered their first real opportunity for MSC. This happened when he teed up a shot that rebounded off an opposition player. Man between the posts for Delhi FC, Scott Moraes, was on his toes as he was quick to react, cancelling the threat.
Mohammedan succumb to Delhi assault
Mohammedan levelled the scores 12 minutes in. Once again, it was Sutar who was involved. He brought his side on equal terms with a bold chip from his own half as Moraes came off his line. Nonetheless, their joy was short-lived. Mali soon bagged his 1st goal of the match and 20th in the competition. His goal restored his team’s lead almost at the stroke of the break.
After half-time, both teams gave each other no space in attack. Delhi FC obtained their insurance goal at the 26th minute marl as Rohit Mulchandani directed Mali’s free-kick goalward with a deadly finish.
From thereon, it was all about the team from the capital city. Red-hot Mali netted 4 goals, one after another in quick succession. With it, he registered his 5th hat-trick in the same number of games. Mohammedan Sporting Club’s Snedden did manage to make the scoresheet but the game was beyond recoverable.
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