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Substitute Dexter Rodrigues’ goal four minutes from the full time whistle gave Mumbai FC a slender 1-0 win over Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore in the opening round of the u-20 I-League 2012 conducted at the Fr. Agnel’s Ground in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Despite a spirited second half performance, the Bangalore outfit were undone by poor finishing in front of goal and a missed penalty in the closing stages of the contest.
The teams raced off to a good start with both sets of keepers being tested early on. As the minutes wore on, it was the unfancied HAL that began to create some serious inroads into the final third, using the flanks to deliver some great crosses into the opposition penalty area.
The Bangaloreans’ persistence finally paid off late in the game when the referee awarded them a penalty after a Mumbai FC defender was deemed to have allegedly handled the ball inside the area. As harsh as the decision may have seemed, there was justice for Mumbai FC in the form of a spectacular save by the keeper from the resulting spot-kick.
With the game heading towards a stalemate, Mumbai FC orchestrated one final attack which resulted in midfielder Rodrigues’ finding himself with acres of space inside the penalty area to strike a low shot past the HAL keeper and into the far corner of the goal.
The 1-0 win means that Mumbai FC move into second place in the standings – below leaders and local rivals Air India who recorded a 2-0 earlier in the day.
