Air India retain Elite Div crown

Air India retain Elite Div crown

Mumbai, June 1: Air India retained the Elite Division title having finished at the top of the league standings of the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) League – 2014-15.

The oft-crowned champions, Air India scored at the death to salvage a 1-1 draw with Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the concluding league match, played under floodlights at the Cooperage ground, on Monday evening.

International Tariq Ahmed scored in the first half for ONGC while seasoned Vijith netted the equaliser deep into stoppage time of the match.

Air India completed the league with 39 points to firmly occupy the pole position ahead of second placed ONGC with 34 points followed by Mumbai Customs with 29 points.

In the final league game both teams tried to assert their dominance. But it was ONGC who managed to strike first when former India striker Tariq Ahmed found the back of the net in the 37^th minute as his team went in the break with a 1-0 advantage.

On resumption, Air India made great efforts and created quite a number of chances to cancel out ONGC’s lead but they had to wait till the final moments of the match to achieve their goal. Sagar Chile from the right sent in a measured cross for Vijith Shetty who clinically finished in the 4^th additional period to force a draw.

Shri Ashish Shelar, BJP MLA from Bandra was the chief guest along with Shri Atul Bagdamia, Vice-President, Mumbai FC, who later presented the glittering Elite Division Trophy and a cheque of Rs 0ne lakh to the champions Air India and the runners-up trophy and Rs 50,000 to ONGC.

Mumbai Customs, who finished with 29 points, clinched the third position and received Rs 25,000.

PIFA Colaba FC striker Elvis Ozawara who struck 13 goals in the tournament was the highest goal scorer and was rewarded with a cash award of Rs 10,000.

Results – Elite Div: ONGC 1 (Tarif Ahmed 37^th) drew with Air India 1 (Vijith Shetty 90+4^th).