All Kochi 5’s needed was a point to seal a place in the semifinals with Mumbai 5’s having already qualified for the semifinal. But Mumbai 5’s were in no mood to give away free points and ended the group stage with another win to make them favorites to win the inaugural Premier Futsal League. The loss give Chennai 5’s a lifeline to make it to the semifinal stage as they will be facing off against Kochi in the last match of Group A.
Kochi opened the scoring in the first quarter through Moraes in the 3rd minute but Mumbai replied immediately in the very next minute it was once again Mumbai’s star man Foglia who leveled the match. Kochi retook the lead just before the end of the first quarter with Moraes this time assisting Changuinha to make it 2-1.
The match continued like a cat and mouse race with Mumbai again coming back only for Moraes to add another to make it 3-2 only to be again leveled by Foglia 2nd strike to make it 3-3 at half time. Mumbai 5’s seem to have enough of it and fired two past to make it 5-3 going into the final quarter. There was no drama in the final 10 minutes as both teams added a goal each to finish the match at 6-4.
Kochi 5’s will now need a win or a draw against Chennai to make it to the semi final, while Chennai have their tasks cut out going into their final match
Kolkata 5’s vs Bengaluru 5’s
Both team played what was their second draw of the tournament. The lone point was enough for Kolkata 5’s to advance to the semis, and Bengaluru still remains alive in the tournament going into the final match against Goa 5’s which will be a sort of knockout quarterfinals.
Kolkata was awarded a penalty after Hernan Crespo’s corner kick struck the hand of Maxi in the D, Pula was up to the task and dispatched the shot home to give Kolkata 5’s the lead. However that was the first and last goal by Kolkata as they failed to score from open play even after coming close a number of times courtesy of some good defending on Bengaluru part and some poor finishing by Kolkata 5’s. In the second quarter, Bengaluru 5’s were more aggressive and their players displayed more effective coordination and passes. But they could not get the equalizer as Cidao was equal to the task finally Jonathan Piers in the 22nd minute got a much deserved equalizer to make it 1-1 to set up an exciting final quarter.
Both teams failed to put the game to rest, Bengaluru 5’s got a wonderful chance in the 39th minute when Cidao’s ambition cost him an orange card but they failed to make much of it.
Bengaluru 5’s will hope to make amends and finally end their win less streak going into the final match against the Goa 5’s who have just received Cafu as Ronaldinho’s replacement.