Under-19 I-League: Hattrick of wins for AIFF Navi Mumbai Academy

It was goals galore at the Goans Sports Ground in Churchgate, Mumbai as the AIFF Regional Academy, Navi Mumbai recorded their third win on the trot in a 5-2 victory over Kenkre FC in the Maharashtra qualifiers of the of the Under-19 I-League yesterday. In what proved to be a hotly contested encounter with tackles flying all over the pitch, the referee was kept busy with a total of four yellows and one red card being awarded at various stages.

The deadlock was broken in the 10th minute following an impressive build-up by the AIFF Academy boys and striker Milan Basumatary found the net with an acrobatic finish off a cross from Rakesh Oram from the right flank. On to the 37th minute and Basumatary was brought down inside the penalty area by a dangerous challenge by the opposition keeper Joe Paul Bence which prompted referee Tapan Ghosh to immediately point to the spot and award a red card to the keeper for his offence. Bidyananda Singh converted off the resultant spot-kick before Moinuddin Khan added the team’s third five minutes later with a well placed effort.

Despite being down to ten men, Kenkre FC put in a resolute effort and found their way back into the game when Atif Shaikh’s thunderous volley found the back of the net in the 54th minute. The AIFF youngsters responded with a goal of their own, this time from winger Rakesh Oram who was quick to convert off a rebound inside the penalty area to restore his team’s three goal cushion and make it 4-1.

Kenkre FC reduced the deficit for the second time after the referee awarded the second penalty of the game and substitute forward Arish Sutaria scored off the resultant spot-kick. Any hopes of a comeback by Kenkre FC were dashed when AIFF winger Suman Sarkar put the result beyond doubt in the 88th minute with a powerful strike into the top corner to make it 5-2 at the final whistle.