Football: Sports Mania Opens AIFF Elite Campaign With Thrilling 2-1 Win Against Maharashtra Orange

Pune, 5th January, 2024: Debutants Sports Mania earned full points registering an encouraging 2-1 win over Maharashtra Orange F.C in the AIFF Elite Youth League (Under-17) at the Sports Mania Arena, Wakad here on Saturday.
Adopting a fast paced approach resulting in the first half filled with goal-action, Sports Mania scored twice through Prithviraj Patil (18th) and Rajeev Mane (37th) to lead 2-0. In a fight back, Mumbai’s Oranje F.C struck back six minutes later when Arnav Late (41st) reduced the margin and rest the game.
Playing their first ‘home’ match, Sports Mania, Pune’s only 2-Star AIFF Accredited Academy got off to a flyer winning initial exchanges.
Midway into the first half, Sports Mania took the lead. Dhruv Sawant played a through ball to Prithviraj Patil who did well in lobbying over the goalkeeper (1-0).
Up 1-0, Sports Mania doubled the lead off a corner kick. Finding a loose ball at his feet Rajeev Mane slammed the ball home from just outside the 18-yard box and bulged the net (2-0).
Sitting comfortably with a 2-0 lead, Sports Mania conceded a goal through Arnav Late (41st) who won a ball after right defender Aditya Kamble was beaten leaving Arnav with a clean look at the goal and score (2-1).
The other teams with Sports Mania include, Rajasthan United F.C, Charutar Vidya Mandal F.C, Zinc Football Academy, ARA F.C. All teams will lock horns playing a ‘home’ and ‘away’ game.
Sports Mania next plays four back to back ‘away’ games against Rajasthan F.C (7th January, 2024), Charutar Vidya Mandal F.C (10th January), ARA F.C (13th January), Zinc Football Academy (16th January).