City Club huff and puff

PUNE, Aug 25: Last season's runners-up City Club were made to sweat for a 2-1 victory by whipping boys Phoenix Football Academy in the Po...

PUNE, Aug 25: Last season8217;s runners-up City Club were made to sweat for a 2-1 victory by whipping boys Phoenix Football Academy in the Poona District Football Association Senior League at the Ammunition Factory Ground, Kirkee, today.

In an earlier match, Range Hills Young Boys set the tone for a rousing day with a spirited rally to down Chetak after trailing by two goals.

The winners scored twice in each half to deflate Chetak 4-3 with Sabhir Sayyed 2 and Asif Sayyed along with Santosh Khude getting on to the scoresheet. Chetan Pimple 2 and Amit Navalli scored for Chetak.

Rohan Pawar put Phoenix ahead but City Club struck back after the interval through Michael Pinto and Sanu Jacob to score their first win in the league.

Nothing went right for former champions City Club much before they could take the field. Their main midfielder Mathew Susainathan and their defender Cedric Fernandes were missing from the line-up. After the kick-off, they failed to retain possession and their passing remained below par. Phoenix capitalised on their vaunted rivals slipshod play and forged ahead when Rohan Pawar got past the sliding City Club defender Sushil Joseph and the advancing 8216;keeper Ravi Durga into the far corner of the net.

Phoenix8217;s defenders did a commendable job in holding fort but their forwards muffed up sitters. Even Milind Kulkarni, setting play adeptly, muffed a good chance. With the City Club defence caught off guard, Milind Kulkarni could not boot the ball into an empty net.

City Club changed their approach after lemon-break. In the 41st minute, Michael Pinto8217;s volley hit Phoenix8217;s defender Amol Kulkarni. Referee Dorairaj rightly pointed to the dreaded spot and Michael Pinto put it accross the keeper Ajay Natu 1-1. Sanu Jacob netted the match-winner in the 48th miniute.

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Chetak falter: Call it over confidence or underestimating the opponents, Chetak failed to captalise on the 2-0 lead succumbing meekly to Range Hill Young Boys who netted four goal thereafter to emerge victors.

Chetak shot ahead in the 16th minute when Chetan Pimple hammered home a right-footer from a close range. Thirteen minutes later Amit Navalli increased the lead. However, Chetak8217;s posture of playing cool backfired as RHYB hit back in telling fashion. The dependable Shabir Sayyed and Asif Sayyed netted twice in four minutes to draw level. After the change of ends Shabir Sayyed added one more to his kitty and his team before Santosh Khude pumped in the fourth.

Chetak attempting to comeback, pulled one back through Chetan Pimple eight minutes from time.

The league will resume after a day8217;s break tomorrow due to Raksha Bandhan.