On Monday, Mumbai City FC and Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RF YC) won the National Championship of the Reliance Foundation Developmental League (RF DL) in two high-scoring matches in Mumbai.
First, the Islanders upset Velsao SCC in an early morning high-octane duel, which Mumbai won 5-3. The home team didn’t get off to a good start. Giving a penalty kick to the opponent in the 13th minute due to a pretty preventable defensive blunder. Velsao forward Meuton Fernandes took advantage of the situation and put his team ahead early in the game.
However, Mumbai improved as the game progressed. With forward Mustafa Shaikh scoring in the 39th minute to tie the game at 1-1 at halftime. Velsao came out of the interval with fresh vigour. And Fernandes capitalised on that momentum. Finding the back of the goal once more in the 50th minute to reclaim the lead for his team.
However, Mumbai completely dominated the next 20 minutes, with Shaikh equalising again in the 55th minute. Ayush Chikkhara, Mumbai’s top forward, scored a brace in the 61st and 68th minutes, respectively. To guarantee that the Islanders entered the last quarter of the game with a firm grip on the game.
Velsao’s Fernandes, on the other hand, refused to give up. Completing his hat-trick with a spectacular goal in the 70th minute that put his team within striking distance of at least a draw from this encounter. Finally, Mumbai’s substitute forward Harsh Patil put an end to any hopes of a repeat performance by scoring in the 87th minute. And the game ended with Mumbai having taken two points.
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RF YC depend on substitutes to beat East Bengal
Later that day, RFYC launched a fantastic second-half comeback. As two of their replacements, Chirag Bhujel and Hawaibam Surdas Meitei. Combined to strike three times in the final 30 minutes to pull a victory from the jaws of loss in this encounter.
East Bengal’s towering forward Himanshu Jangra scored in the 45th minute at the end of a tense first half. To guarantee his team went into the halfway break with their heads held high. RFYC made many replacements, and luckily for them, all of them worked, with Bhujel equalising in the 61st minute.
The Red and Gold Brigade, on the other hand, reclaimed the lead four minutes later, with midfielder Aman CK scoring to make the score 2-1.
That momentum, however, was short-lived, as Hawaibam scored in the 67th minute, beating East Bengal custodian Aditya Patra. RFYC did not let down their guard and continued to strive for the victory. Their efforts were rewarded when Bhujel scored his second and third goals of the game for RFYC, thereby settling the contest in his team’s advantage. RFYC qualified for the national tournament by winning all ten of their regional qualification games, and that energy and form were on full show in their resounding victory on Monday.
Scores in Brief
3 (Meuton Fernandes 13′ 50′ 60′) Velsao SCC – 5 (Mustafa Shaikh 39′ 55′, Ayush Chikkhara 61′ 68′, Harsh Patil 87′) Mumbai City FC
RF Young Champs 2 (Himanshu Jangra 45′, Aman CK 65′) – 3 (Chirag Bhujel 61′ 73′, Hawaibam Surdas Meitei 67′) East Bengal Football Club
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