It all boils down to the last two days of the inaugural edition of Premier Futsal. Mumbai 5s who sealed their semifinal berth with a game in hand faced Kolkata 5s who managed to make it through after a sluggish end to the league rounds.

The semifinal started in its typical fashion with several short passes by both teams to settle in and the first opportunity came Chanpreet’s way in the second minute, which was shot wide. Angelot was broke the deadlock in the 8th minute as he sent Cidao the wrong way and put the ball in the empty net. Foglia could have doubled the lead a minute later, but hit it straight to Cidao on the break.

Mumbai continued to dominate the second quarter, as Angelot put another one in the net in the opening minute. Foglia missed another chance a couple of minutes later as he hit the side-netting. Mumbai 5’s kept the pressure on the Kolkata 5’s by keeping possession and breaching the Kolkata defence. Ramirez scored the third for Mumbai from a very tight angle. At half time, Kolkata looked absolutely clueless and had no answers to Mumbai’s strike force.

Mumbai looked to be in complete control, until Goalkeeper Luis Almado ventured to the halfway line and a misdirected pass was shot in to the empty net by Carioca. Mumbai defence was caught napping for the second time in two minutes as Gabriel’s calm finish reduced the difference to just one goal. With several incomplete moves, wide shots and through balls which didn’t find anyone to receive it, the third quarter was below par. But, Kolkata reduced the deficit to just one goal from being three goals down.

With everything to play for, Kolkata sent Cidao up to add a man in the outfield and Angelot completed his hat-trick by rolling the ball in to the empty Kolkata net. Mumbai’s fourth put a dent in to Kolkata 5’s hopes. Mumbai 5’s kept possession and made the Kolkata team work hard for a touch. At the final whistle, Mumbai 5’s became the first team to register their place in the finals of Premier Futsal’s debut season.

(Premier Futsal Press Release)