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After 72 matches in 48 days, the final five teams are facing off in the Second Division League – final round. 19 teams started the group stage of the Second Division League campaign. A group of five, there were four groups namely A,B,C and D (Group B had 4 teams).
Let us take a look at how Ambernath United Atlanta FC fared in the group stage.
Ambernath United Atlanta FC who were making their debut in the third tier of Indian Football which is Second Division League were pitted against ARA FC, Dempo SC, FC Goa Reserves and Hyderabad FC Reserves in Group D. It was going to be an uphill battle for Ambernath United Atlanta FC with four home and four away matches.
Phase 1: First four matches ( 2 home and 2 away)
Ambernath United Atlanta FC began their Second Division League campaign with two home games against Hyderabad FC Reserves and ARA FC. Both matches saw them go 0-1 down. Their opening match saw them come back from 0-1 down to win 2-1 with goals from Arif Shaikh and Abhijit Tawhare. After falling behind in the first half, Steven Dias’ side showed the resilience to turn around the scoreline and seal their first three points.
Next up at the Cooperage Stadium were the top side from Gujarat, ARA FC. ARA FC were their toughest test in the Group and facing them early on at home was a chance for Ambernath United Atlanta FC to prove their credentials in challenging for the top spot in Group D. ARA FC started on the front foot and were rewarded on the stroke of half-time when they went ahead 0-1. Yet another game, Ambernath United Atlanta FC had to chase the scoreline and they did just that. A stupendous free kick from Johnson Matthews proved to be the equalising goal for Ambernath United Atlanta FC who held on to the 1-1 scoreline to earn a point.
With four points from the six available, Ambernath United Atlanta FC made a bright start to their Second Division League Campaign. One of the most important parts was the home crowd that came in numbers to support the home side at the Cooperage Stadium in Colaba, Mumbai. Ambernath United Atlanta FC head coach Steven Dias was full of praise describing the fans as 12th man. With some much needed momentum, Ambernath set out on their first away trip, a trip to Goa to face another heavyweight Dempo SC and FC Goa Reserves.
The away trip proved jittery for Ambernath United Atlanta FC as they managed to get only one point from a possible six in Goa. First a 3-3 draw against FC Goa Reserves and then a 2-1 loss to Dempo SC after being 1-0 up. Trailing 1-0 against FC Goa Reserves, goals from Himanshu Patil and Ashley Koli helped Ambernath turn around the scoreline to 2-1 but they were pegged by both the times they took the lead. Arif Shaikh scored in the second half to make it 3-2 but FC Goa Reserves pulled it back to 3-3.
Against Dempo SC, Ashley Koli’s free-kick put Ambernath United Atlanta FC in front. But two quick goals in the second half from Dempo SC handed them their first loss in two years since their inception. Such was the away matches where they picked up only a point from the possible six returning home from the final stretch of games to face.
Phase 2: Final stretch of matches ( 2 home and 2 away)
The Cooperage Stadium was always going to a fortress for Ambernath United Atlanta FC as teams who came here might have gone 1-0 up but were in for a blitzkrieg in the second half knowing the response from Ambernath United Atlanta FC was going to be fierce. This is exactly what they need from their next two home games.
First a 2-0 win against FC Goa Reserves with goals from Shravan Shetty and Himanshu Patil saw them seal three points for the first since opening day. It was just their second win in five and took them to 8 points. What followed was a thrilling 3-1 against Dempo SC. Once again Ambernath United Atlanta FC went behind to a Dempo SC goal.
There was everything to play for in the second half as Steven Dias’ side rallied back with three quick goals. Shravan Shetty timed his run to perfection to score the equaliser from the end of a Johnson Matthew free kick into the box. Himanshu Patil made it 2-1 after a breathtaking run from Arif to cut it back for the captain. Arif Shaikh got on the end of a one-two with Abhijit to make it 3-1. The Cooperage was buzzing as they had seen the home side earn six out of six points.
This is where the season got back on track as Ambernath United Atlanta FC went from five points in four matches to 11 points from six matches and went level with ARA FC with a match played more. With final two group matches left away from home, Ambernath United Atlanta FC were once again buoyed with confidence that they could make it through as group D winners.
The first hurdle was cleared comfortably as they dispatched Hyderabad FC Reserves with a 3-0 scoreline. A brace from Adil Khan and a goal from Arif Shaikh sealed all three points, their first win away from home. Then came the D-Day where ARA FC welcomed Ambernath United Atlanta FC at the Shahibaug Police Ground. Ambernath United Atlanta FC were three points behind ARA FC and a win would do wonders for their chance to qualify for the final round. Ambernath found themselves 1-0 down in the 13th minute. Himanshu Patil equalised in the 21st minute. The scenario at this point was that ARA FC were on 18 points and Ambernath United Atlanta FC on 15 points. As we looked set for a 1-1 draw, the clock stood still in the 96th minute, i.e the sixth minute of added time when Shravan Shetty popped up to score the winner for Ambernath United Atlanta FC. The side from Maharashtra had created history, with this victory they tied ARA FC on points, 17 each. But courtesy of the head to head points they pipped ARA FC to claim top spot in Group D.
Also as per the rules, since Group B had four teams, the results against fifth placed teams in other groups would not be counted. Since FC Goa Reserves were bottom of Group D, ARA FC with six points less and AUA FC with four less still put AUA FC on 13 points and ARA FC on 11 points. That’s two points clear at the top. In any case Ambernath United Atlanta FC were Group D winners and progressed through to the final round.
The journey that began on March 19, 2023 had reached a satisfactory conclusion on April 26, 2023. 38 days, 8 matches and a top spot in Group D was what Steven Dias’ team had achieved. With their debut season well and truly on its way to fruition, Ambernath United Atlanta FC saw themselves progress to the final round of the Second Division League.
