Football in Pune: NDA Youth Sports Club, City F.C Pune, Sangam Y.B, Durga S.A enter semifinals
Pune, 15th May 2023: NDA Youth Sports Club (NDA YSC) and City F.C Pune took the tie-breaker route, while Durga S.A and Sangam Young Boys ‘B’ forced results in regulation time to make it to the semifinal round of the inaugural Aspire Cup 2023 (Second-Third Division) Football Tournament, at the Dr. Hedgewar ground, Pimpri here on Monday
The tournament is being played under the aegis of the Poona District Football Association (PDFA) and organised by Aspire India.
In the first quarterfinal, Durga S.A proved a tough nut to crack for Rahul F.A and won 3-1. Two quick goals, first by Neeraj Mane (11th) and Nelson Paste (12th) put Rahul F.A on the backfoot. Rahul F.A pulled one back through Ganesh Patil (24th) to end the first half 2-1. Changing ends, Ronnie Rozario (36th) handed Durga F.A an unassailable 3-1 lead which ended the match.
Thereafter, two tie-breaker matches were the order of the day. NDA Y.S.C in a stunning comeback downed Ashoka XI after playing out a 1-1 draw and forcing a 4-3 tie-breaker win.
Ashoka XI had Ravi Kiran (12th), open the scoring, but four minutes later Sudhir Kumar (19th) put NDA Y.S.C on levels. In the ensuing tie-breaker, Ritesh Thakur, Ajesh CA, Sandeep Singh and Ashish Kohli were successful for NDA Y.SC, while Sreerag VR, Prasad Bhandari, Shrikant Mahadik could manage success with their attempts.
City F.C Pune and were locked in a goalless battle at full time before City F.C Pune forced a 4-3 tie-breaker victory. Lalit Patil, Pritesh Babar, Satvik Nayak, Vicky Singh) scored for City F.C Pune, which was reduced by Ritwik M, Fahed Khan, Sandan Nanek for Sangvi F.C ‘B’.
The last semifinal slot was bagged by Sangam Young Boys ‘B’ at the expense of Puneri Warriors 1-0. The all-important goal was netted by Vipul Gophane (13th).
RESULTS (II-III Division)
QF-1: Durga Sports Academy: 3 (Neeraj Mane 11th, Nelson Paste 12th, Ronnie Rozario 36th) bt Rahul Football Academy: 1 (Ganesh Patil 24th)
QF-2: NDA Youth Sports Club: 1 (4) (Sudhir Kumar 19th; Ritesh Thakur, Ajesh CA, Sandeep Singh, Ashish Kohli) bt Ashoka XI: 1 (3) (Ravi Kiran 12th; Sreerag VR, Prasad Bhandari, Shrikant Mahadik)
QF-3: City F.C Pune: 0 (4) (Lalit Patil, Pritesh Babar, Satvik Nayak, Vicky Singh) bt Sangvi Football Club ‘B’: 0 (3) (Ritwik M, Fahed Khan, Sandhan Nanekar)
QF-4: Sangam Young Boys ‘B’: 1 (Vipul Gophane 13th) bt Puneri Warriors: 0.
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