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Mumbai Customs clinched the top honours in the annual Independence Cup Football Tournament, organised by the Mumbai District Football Association’s (MDFA).
In an absorbing final, Customs, who finished runners-up last year, did well to clinch a narrow 1-0 win against a fighting Central Railway at the St. Xavier’s ground, Parel on Wednesday.
Customs wrested initiative by taking the lead in the 10th minute. Following a quick counter, Customs roving striker Franciso Salian chased a long ball before coolly lobbing it over an advanced Central goalkeeper Shibu Shanmugham to bring cheers in the Customs camp.
Thereafter, Customs defended well to deny their rival attackers, who tried their best to penetrate deep, from finding the target and emerge victors.
Earlier, in the third place match, Companeroes SC, who earned promotion to the Elite Division from this season, got the better of Union Bank of India 7-6 via the sudden death after the teams were tied goalless at the end of regulation period.
Results – Independence Cup, at St. Xavier’s ground, Parel:
Final: Mumbai Customs (Francisco Salian) beat Central Railway 0.
Semi-finals: Central Railway 1 (Arun E.K.) beat Companeroes SC 0.
Mumbai Customs 4 (Sajjad Mendon, Praneel Mendon, Mathias Coutinho, Raj Shree) beat Union Bank of India 2 (Pranay Daniel, Titus Uttankar) via the tie-breaker. Full-time: 1-1.
Hardlines: Companeroes SC 7 (Nixon Rodrigues, Ayan Sen, Prathik Patil, Ronwill Mendonca, Wren D’Abreo, Kayniek Fernandes, Godwin Tauro) beat Union Bank of India 6 (Prakyak Shetty, Merwyn Stephen, Johnson D’Silva, Sagar Bedekar, Titus Uttankar, Prakash Katti) via the sudden death. Full-time: 0-0.
