The Strikers suffered a crushing 1-0 defeat to ICL Payyade (ICL) in the MFL Elite League at the Neville D'souza Football Ground on friday.

MS had enough chances in the first-half but couldn't find the breakthrough, and the missed chances came back to haunt as ICL scored a late, late winner in the 87th minute.

MS started the brighter of the two teams and were able to build-up from the back comfortably. The first real chance for MS came in the twentieth minute as some neat combinations on the right flank opened up the ICL defence. Winger Joseph D'mello found attacking midfielder Rahul Johny in the ICL six-yard box with a penetrating through pass. Rahul turned and setup midfielder Amit Koli with a cutback whose resultant scorcher was blocked by the ICL defenders desperate challenge.
In the 27th minute, MS custodian Abhishek Singh's failed clearance presented ICL with a golden oppurtunity to take the lead, but the strikers feeble attempt at a shot landed in his safe hands. The teams went into the break level pegging without any goals to show.

Much of the second half was being played at a frantic pace as both teams were playing with a real urgency to get the breakthrough. MS maintained good shape throughout and were able to breakdown the oppositions creative play.

Just as it seemed that the game might end in a stalemate, there was time for a final twist. ICL struck at the death as a defensive lapse gave ample time for the winger to deliver a precise cross. The ball zoomed past the MS defence as the arriving ICL winger hit a first time volley slotting the ball into the back of the net to inflict a crushing defeat on the Strikers. MS were gutted as there was hardly any time left to muster a comeback and the game ended 1-0 to ICL.

MS face a stern test in the upcoming matches as they look to pick up the pieces. MS play 7th place Sellebrity FC in their next encounter on Tuesday at the Neville D'souza Football Ground.