MPL Playoff Roundup: MH Oranje keep slim title hopes burning, CFCI celebrate first win

by Chittu Shetty April 5, 2025

A gritty 2-1 win over ICL Mumbai helps Maharashtra Oranje FC to keep their title hopes alive albeit an outside chance meanwhile CFCI defeated Kenkre FC in a 7 goal thriller to pick first win of championship round

MH Oranje FC clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over ICL Mumbai in their penultimate game of the Championship Playoff Round, courtesy to two stunning goals from Shane Arhana and Saurabh Sharma.

This win was crucial for MH Oranje FC as they aim to secure a podium finish and the first goal lived up to expectations when young Shane Arhana scored at the 19th-minute mark. Before the goal, with awareness of the space experienced Prathamesh directed the young center-back to receive the ball in the middle, where there was ample of space for receiving. Shane took advantage of the space and unleashed a powerful shot from over 25+ yards, which stunned everyone on the ground. The ICL keeper stretched to his best, but the knuckleball trajectory made it difficult to judge, and the ball sailed into the top right corner.

Entering the second half, ICL had 45 minutes to mount a comeback. Around six minutes into the half, a clumsy and unintentional penalty giveaway by MH Oranje occurred when Kamie accidentally caught tip of the ball with his hand at the edge of the box. ICL was awarded a spot kick, and Zeeshan Akhtar, their go-to man, slotted the ball into the left bottom corner, sending Mukunthan the wrong way. This goal propelled Zeeshan to the top 2 of the tournament’s scoring list with 14 goals.

However, MH Oranje FC refused to back down. In a dramatic turn of events, they delivered another stunning goal. Kuvaio directed a heavy pass from just outside the box to Saurabh, whose first touch complemented the pass, allowing him to evade the defender. With immense precision, Saurabh belted a left-footed half-volley from the middle of the edge of the box, which went straight into the bottom right corner, leaving the ICL keeper helpless and sealing the victory for MH Oranje Fc

FT: MH Oranje FC (Shane Arhana 19′, Saurabh Sharma 73′) 2 – 1 ICL Mumbai (Zeeshan Akhtar 53′)

In yesterday’s enounter, CFCI came from behind twice before edging past Kenkre FC 4-3 in a 7-goal thriller of a game. Kenkre’s inform striker T. Zimik headed home the opener to a cross from left flank to break the deadlock. Few minutes later, Kenkre won a penalty and Zimik made no mistake as he doubled the lead for his side.

CFCI pulled one back courtesy of a clinical strike from Khushal Makwana in the 18th minute, this was followed by Kumayle Merchant’s strike minutes before half time as both teams entered the break at 2-2.

In the second half, Kenkre FC quickly took the lead again as T Zimik’s head into the goal a cross from right. However Om Arane’s double strike brought CFCI back in the game and put them in lead as well as they went on to pick up their first win of the Championship round.

As MH Oranje FC moved to third place in the table with 13 points from eight games, they have kept themselves within the title race. Their final match will be against Hope United in the penultimate game of the Mumbai Premier League and could very well be a pivotal game.

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