Pune: Premier India Football Academy (PIFA) Colaba FC ended the dream run of Amanora Deccan XI FC 4-3 via the penalty-shootout after playing out a goalless draw in regulation time to enter the final in the 7th Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Cup, at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Educational Complex Ground, here on Friday.
The game began with both sides preferring to stay in their own halves and move ahead on counters. After twelve minutes of play, Deccan XI FC had the first chance of the game through Avinash Shetty who ended up shooting over the bar from distance.
At the half hour mark, PIFA, finally, managed to create an opportunity after dominating play and end up forcing a free kick, which striker George Wamou took well but went inches over.
PIFA’s best chance of the half came in the 42nd minute. Clifford Garrett floated a free-kick into the penalty box giving George a chance who ended up shooting inches wide.
The first half ended goalless with both sides failing in the final third.
Switching ends, PIFA missed one more when Henthoiba Singh found himself in the clear on the right, but could not connect his half-volley properly and shot wide.
PIFA went close to taking the lead when George’s header off a corner was cleared on the goal-line by Deccan’s defender Abhishek Babar.
At the other end, Deccan XI went agonizingly close when Prashant Pardesi’s shot from 30- yards hit the crossbar.
The game ended goalless after both sides failed to score in regulation time and the first semifinal had to be decided on penalties.
Onto the penalties and Deccan XI fell behind when Gajanan Rajurwad missed the first spot kick while PIFA’s Clifford Garrett scored.
Thereafter Deccan’s Sohail Shaikh and Abhijeet Shinde scored while PIFA’s Sushil Kawde and Henthoiba also found the net make the score 3-2 in favor of PIFA.
Deccan’s Shreekant Molingiri missed the fourth kick, but PIFA failed to take advantage as George missed.
Deccan’s T.Mong Khonesai made it 3-3 scoring off his team’s last penalty kick to give Deccan hope. However, PIFA’s Mohsin Khan scored to win it for PIFA.
RESULT
PIFA, Colaba: 0 (4) (Cliffort Garett, Sushil Kawde, Henthoiba Singh, Moshin Khan) beat Amanora Deccan XI FC 0 (3) (Sohail Shaikh, Abhijeet Shinde, T.Mong Khonesai)
