Tornadoes FC v Brothers United
Score: Tornadoes FC (4) – (2) Brothers United
Scorers
Tornadoes FC (Mohammed Khaleel 1’,42; Zaibulla S 15’,46’)
Brothers United (Shahbaz Desai 9’, 57’)
Tornadoes emerged as the winners against Brothers United to stay in the race for promotion. Khaleel opened the scoring early in the game with the opener coming in the 1st minute thanks to an assist from Zaibulla. Brothers woke up from their slumber to get back into the game and levelled the scoring via Shabaz Desai in the 9th minute.
Brothers went toe to toe with Tornadoes in the first half but defensive errors cost them the game eventually. Zaibulla reclaimed the lead for Tornadoes in the 15th minute and they never looked back after that. As the game wore on, Tornadoes took control of the possession with Zaibulla and Khaleel connecting well in attack. Vinod had a good in defence along with Aahil and Yunus. Two more goals in the second half from Tornadoes gave them a comfortable margin with both Khaleel and Zaibulla picking up braces.
Brothers scored one more goal in the dying minutes of the game but with a huge deficit to recover from, it was only a consolation. For Brothers, Shahbaz was excellent up front but failed to find any support from his midfield.
Tornadoes can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to keep up the chase for a promotion spot. Brothers are not in danger of going into the red zone but they do need a couple more wins to stay afloat in mid-table.
Man of the Match: Mohammed Khaleel (Tornadoes FC)
United 4th Phase FC v Can-a-bees FC
Score: United 4th Phase FC (7) – (1) Can-a-bees FC
Scorers
United 4th Phase FC (Dauda Ahme 19’,23’, 48’; Gaurav Prabhkar 26’; Multan Khan 35’, 44’, 53’)
Can-a-bees FC (Rahul Sharma 36’)
Hat trick heroes Daude Ahme and Multan Khan combined to rip apart Can-a-bees FC and ensure all three points for their side. United 4th Phase are amongst the teams looking to get promoted this season and only wins from here on out will ensure they have a realistic chance at getting promoted. Can-a-bees had another match where they struggled to create any chances and need some time in the game room to tinker with their strategy.
Can-a-bees started the game on even terms with United 4th Phase and held them off in the first quarter. They even fashioned a chance or two of their own but once Daude Ahme opened the scoring in the 19th minute there was no looking back for United 4th.
Four minutes later Ahme doubled his tally and his team’s lead to two goals before Gaurav Prabhkar made it three before half-time. Multan Khan grabbed a second-half hat-trick for United 4th with Daude Ahme also collecting his third for the day.
Can-a-bees had a decent spell for about five minutes in the game when Rahul Sharma scored in the second half but it nothing more than a consolation goal. For United 4th, Sai Kiran was the main man in midfield and his passing and work rate were phenomenal.
United 4th’s defence and midfield also lived up to expectations and completely shut out Can-a-bees who barely created any chances with Charles Clinton cutting a lone figure up front. Can-a-bees remain in the red zone while United 4th have a shot at promotion and even an outside shot at the title.
Man of the Match: Sai Kiran (United 4th Phase FC)
Simba Sports FC v Dragons AFC
Score: Simba Sports FC (0) – (0) Dragons AFC
Dragons held Simba to a goalless draw to open up the title race. Simba had a three-point lead over BCFC going into this game but dropped points mean they only have a one point lead over their closest title rivals who won their game later in the day. Dragons have improved game on game and are on an unbeaten four-match run having kept clean sheets in all of them.
Dragons started the game the stronger of the two sides and although they had more possession, they couldn’t convert that into meaningful attacks as the build-up play fizzled out in the final third. Simba slowly got back into the game and created chances of their own but their attacking duo of Zuvundru Victor and Emmanuel Foli could not get into the game.
Credit must be given to Peter Jr, who put on a defensive show to stop his opponents in their tracks. Captain Danny Khumlo also was at the forefront of the game and while he kept another clean sheet, the talking point of the game was his saves at the end of the game that saw his side come out with a point.
Mpembele Kapunga was the main man for Simba in this game and was a rock at the back for his side, especially in the first half when the Dragons threatened to score. This was the first time this season that manager Joe Lubala failed to break down his opposition from the sidelines. Dragons may have given BCFC a blueprint of how to hold back Simba but BCFC themselves need to watch out with them playing Dragons in GW 9.
Man of the Match: Peter Jr (Dragons AFC)
Pegasus FC v Bangalore City FC B
Score: Pegasus FC (0) – (4) Bangalore City FC B
Scorers
Bangalore City FC B (Nicolas B 16’; Abdhul Kamali 28’; Worthem B 30’, 52’)
Bangalore City FC B Emerged victorious over Pegasus FC to stay in the race for the title. Pegasus put on a decent performance to hold off BCFC for the first quarter of the game but eventually, their opponents proved too strong for them. Nicolas opened the scoring in the 16th minute before the man in form, Abdhul Kamali, added a second in the 28th minute.
Worthem scored the first of his two goals just before halftime to give BCFC a comfortable margin going into halftime. Pegasus made some changes at halftime including bringing on Niranjan in goal and that proved to be decisive for them.
The young goalkeeper made some incredible saves to keep his side from conceding more goals and it was only in the 52nd minute that BCFC added one more through Worthem. Faazil had a good game in midfield while Ibrahim Kanote was once again a rock at the back.
With Simba having dropped points earlier in the game, BCFC knew a win would take them within touching distance of their title rivals and they did exactly that although they would have hoped to score more goals.
Pegasus’ performances have improved but the results haven’t been in their favour. They have got most of their tough games out of the way and will be aching to pick up a win before the season ends.
Man of the Match: Worthem B (Bangalore City FC B)
The Aces v Kammanhattan All Stars
Score: The Aces (0) – (4) Kammanhattan All Stars
Scorers
Kammanhattan All Stars (Tudor Marchis 3’; Lucas Ndjoli 15’; Shane Mark 44’; Ammar Mahmoud 55’)
Kammanhattan All Stars kept the pressure on the top two defeating Aces in a convincing manner. Tudor Marchis returned to the lineup and instantly had an impact by scoring in the 3rd minute to hand Kammanhattan the lead.
Aces had been in good form up until then but flattered to deceive against Kammanhattan. They had built up a good understanding in the midfield and attack, something they completely threw out of the window and they barely resembled the side that had picked up back-to-back wins.
Lucas Ndjoli scored the second for Kammnhattan in the 15th minute and they should have got more goals considering the amount of possession they had. The Aces keeper made some saves but his outfield counter parts didn’t help their team’s cause by giving away possession cheaply and that too in dangerous positions.
Kammanhattan added two more goals in the second half via Shane Mark and Ammar Mahmoud. Mark has excelled in his newfound role in midfield and has been a key contributor to Kammanhattan’s performances this season.
The win saw Kammanhattan maintain their hold on the top three and although they have an outside shot at the title, their main aim would be to gain promotion. Aces have fallen back to reality after picking up two impressive wins and need to tinker with their strategy if they are to get results against the top dogs.
Man of the Match: Shane Mark (Kammanhattan All Stars)
