Ravish D’souza led from the front to guide Mumbai Strikers to an important victory over Bandra FC.

Bandra FC is one of the favourites to progress from the group in to the play-offs. MSSC were well aware of the threat as the two faced each other in last year’s group stage as well. Mumbai Strikers had edged that game by a 2-0 score line. Striker Ravish D’souza once again was the star performer as he bagged three first half goals. MSSC took an early lead which was annulled by Bandra FC. Ravish managed two more goals before the lemon break. Bandra FC were the more composed outfit and attacked from the centre more than often. MSSC were vulnerable at the back at times. Bandra FC were penetrating with some through balls, They managed to get in some crosses and eventually got their second goal by a tap in from a cross that came in from the left flank. It was a fierce battle and very physical.

Coach Firmin did some changes in the second half by introducing Saurabh Solanki in midfield along with Bhavik and Nilesh. The changes brought in some much needed energy and pace. A tactical change saw Rayan Thomas move from left half to left back. The move to get in Saurabh proved a masterstroke as he latched on to a loose ball just above the 18 yard box and volleyed it past the goalkeeper. That strike calmed some nerves and gave MSSC some breathing space. Ravish then had an opportunity to put the game to bed with an open run with just the keeper to beat. Although he beat the keeper, he bizarrely missed tapping the ball in to an open goal. After the game, the coach and players jokingly applauded him for the miss and likened it to Fernando Torres’s miss against Man Utd.

Nevertheless, that miss fortunately did not prove to be costly and the game ended with a score line of 4-2 in favour of MSSC. That makes it two wins out of two and they remain on the tail of ICL who currently top the table.