Pillaites create history at Mumbai University soccer tourney

Pillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science emerged as the runner-up of Mumbai University football tournament where 216 colleges from the University of Mumbai competed for the title. This is the first time that a college out of Mumbai became part of the final match.

The team captain Rahul Thakur led the team from the front as he scored 10 goals in the tournament. Rahul Thakur was also announced as the top scorer in the recently held Navi Mumbai Mayors Cup football tournament held at Fr Agnels ground, Vashi.

In the super league stage, the Pillaites beat KC College, Churchgate and the score was 8-1. In the next league match, they beat Clara College, CST by 4-1 and in the last league match they outplayed a very strong and last year champion team, Thakur College by 3-1.

In the knock-out stage of super eight, the team beat SM Shetty College and entered into the semi-finals. In the semi-final match, the team overpowered the strong St Andrews College, (who also held the defending Bronze) by 2-1.

In the finals, Pillai met Rizvi ASC, a star studded team with six Indian football league players including their goal keeper. In the first half, both teams made a lot of unsuccessful attempts to score, as Pillaites stunned the Rizvis more frequently by attacking their fronts; but without  scoring. In the second half too, no score was made by both teams.

Finally, the match was decided through a penalty shoot out. “A goal less tie in the final blow of the whistle put both the teams under pressure,” said Padmakshan Padmanabhan, director of sports of Pillai group of colleges. Pillai ACS`s main goal keeper, Ismail Surve was not available because he was suffering from malaria, but the other goal keeper Suraj Nair played excellently.

“In the tie breaking penalty shoot out, we conceded defeat by 4-5 as Sidhant, who scored many goals in the tournament lost control and sent the ball above cross bar,” said KT John, coach of the college.