An amazing Mumbai Strikers SC season came to a dismal end after they were knocked out in the semi-final by the U-19 outfit of Air India. The scoreline read 4-1 and it has been the worst defeat in 4 years for the Strikers. The match was held on a hot afternoon at the St. Xavier’s Ground, Parel.

Mumbai Strikers SC defeated the same team by a score of 1-0 in their first group game at the start of the season. The confidence was high and both teams stepped up with gusto as the winner would not only qualify for the Super Division Finale but also the Elite Division next year. The first half began as the Strikers would like it as they piled up the pressure right from the start. Not an inch of space was supplied to the Air India players and it was highly difficult for them to create the small moves. The pressure showed up as MS striker Ravish D bravely vied for the ball only to clash with the Air India keeper which ended up in a foul. A penalty was declared and MS were ecstatic as they had a chance to move ahead in the tie very early in the game. Akshay D calmly converted the penalty and it was MS in the driver’s seat. The game took a nasty turn as the Air India players started switching flanks quickly and changed the pace of the game. However, an adamant MS defense did not give in easily. The score read 1-0 at the end of 45 minutes.

The second half began and the Air India squad were pumped up as they began creating the small moves which were difficult in the first half. The defending department lost the plot as they allowed the Air India striker to dance through and score the first goal within five minutes of the second half. Not very far away from the first goal, a careless tackle from MS defender Ryan K earned Air India a penalty. The penalty was slotted with ease and it proved to be the turning point of the game as Air India were leading 2-1. The Mumbai Strikers squad were clearing the ball haplessly and were not able to create many chances. The climatic conditions seemed to catch up with the players and it grew hotter in the day. The third goal came easily as MS goalkeeper Leon M misjudged the flight of the ball which landed straight at the foot of the Air India striker who placed it in the net. When everything seemed to go wrong for the Strikers, Air India hammered the final nail in the coffin as their striker came in right into the MSSC 6 yard area and converted a sitter to make the score 4-1. With a few minutes remaining, MS accelerated and played only with three defenders. The strategy proved useless and it was a little too late to be introduced as MSSC were at the losing end of a 4-1 scoreline.

MSSC missed out the chance of climbing to the next division and also of being contenders for the Super Division title inspite of beating both the qualified finalists in Air India U19 and Maharashtra State Police on the way to the semis.