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Mumbai 5s won the inaugural edition of the Premier Futsal League on penalties 3-2 as an entertaining game marked the end of a wonderful tournament at the Peddem Indoor Stadium in Mapusa, Goa.
Giggs and Salgado had both done exceptionally well throughout the tournament but they needed to put in one last big effort to earn their team that coveted trophy. Mumbai boasted the likes of Foglia and Angellot who had really lit up the tournament with their skill.
Kochi had played more as a unit in the tournament with their most fascinating result coming in that dramatic 3-3 draw against Chennai, who were favourites, to put them through into the semifinals.
Kochi scored the opening goal of the game with two minutes to go in the first quarter. Chaguinha attempted shot cum cross somehow found it’s way to Moraes who waiting at the far post and all he had to do was tap it into an empty net.
Foglia came close to levelling it up in the second quarter. His snapshot beat the keeper but bounced off the near post. Kochi continued to employ their counterattacking strategy in the game after grabbing the lead and it was opening up the Mumbai defence every time they attacked.
Salgado thought he had made it 2-0 in the third quarter as he hit the back of the net with a long-range free-kick but the referee ruled it out as it was an indirect free kick which had been awarded. Angellot almost beat the rugged Kochi defense when he floored two defenders with a fake and then a drag back but his shot was deflected by two sliding defenders.
With 10 minutes left in the match Mumbai kept getting several half-chances as Foglia’s free kick just went wide of the post. Next, a long throw from the keeper was headed by Foglia but Casalone produced another great reaction save.
With just over a minute to play, top scorer Angellot stepped up to the plate. He first juggled the ball with a brilliant piece of control and then volleyed it home to take the game to penalties.
A series of penalties took place as Giggs, Salgado, and Foglia all missed but it came down to the battle of the goalkeepers. Mumbai’s keeper Amado converted his penalty while Casalone missed his, giving Mumbai 5s the trophy.
Individual Awards
Best Indian Player: Jonathan Piers (Bangalore)
Most Valuable Player: Angelot (Mumbai)
Golden Arm-Band: Chaguinha (Kochi)
