RFDL Recap: Story of the Season So far

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With this edition, RFDL aims to showcase many talented footballers at the U-21 age group category and help develop the youth football eco-system within India.

TG Purushothaman, Assistant Coach, Kerala Blasters FC discussed the importance of a platform like the Reliance Foundation Development League: “It is a great experience. Reliance Foundation is doing a wonderful job to undertake a tournament like this and give opportunities to the young players to play competitive football. It's very exciting.”

Here's a recap of the action-packed tournament so far across the regional qualifiers.

Kerala Region

Rampant Muthoot FA and Kerala Blasters FC continue their winning streak.
The competition has been fierce in the Kerala Regional Qualifiers.

Muthoot FA have made a blistering start to the tournament. In their opening fixture, they cruised past FC Parappur to claim three points & kickstart the tournament on a winning note. Both the teams looked sharp in the first half. It was all even. However, the second half saw Muthoot FA going with all guns blazing. Skipper Naresh Bhagyanathan slotted the opening goal in the 47th minute. Salahudeen, who came on as a substitute, put the final nail in the coffin by netting a goal in the 94th minute. They followed it up with a clinical 2-0 win against FC Areekode to mark their second consecutive victory. After the completion of three games, they are unbeaten and it’s safe to say that they are the team to beat this season. With nine points from three matches, Muthoot FA are sitting comfortably in the pole position.
On the other hand, Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC) began their Reliance Foundation Development League campaign in a commanding way with a 5-1 win over FC Areekode. The spectators in Ernakulam witnessed a goal-fest. Bijoy opened the scoring, converting a penalty in the 24th minute. Ajsal then made sure the floodgates opened courtesy a brace. Two pivotal KBFC players - Saheef and MS Sreekuttan - also found their names on the score sheet. In the second game, the team were held to a stalemate.

In their last encounter, KBFC returned to winning ways, edging past LIFFA 2-1. Thanks to goals from Ajsal and Shijas, the side took home three vital points in a fiercely contested game.

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They are in the second position, with three points adrift from the table-toppers, Muthoot FA. Akin to the table toppers, the blasters are also unbeaten in the competition so far. With momentum on their side, KBFC will look to replicate last year’s performance.

After a thunderous 6-0 win against FC Kerala in their opening game, LIFFA followed it up with another victory 1-0 over Kovalam FC. Defender Aron’s goal in the 14th minute proved enough for the LIFFA to continue their winning juggernaut in the tournament. The team were handed their first defeat of the RFDL campaign by KBFC. With two wins and a solitary loss in three games, LIFFA occupy third place in the points table.

Kovalam FC and FC Areekode remain mired in the mid-table with three points in three matches. The two teams have managed to garner only a solitary victory. Parappur FC and FC Kerala have still not clinched victories in the competition. The two teams, who are stuck at the bottom half of the table, will look to gather some steam as the race for the qualification is heating up.

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Mumbai Region

RFYC riding the wave of momentum, MCFC gather steam.
With some stoppage-time winners, spectacular finishes, crunching challenges - Regional Qualifiers in Mumbai has been nothing short of a blockbuster so far.

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The Reliance Foundation Young Champs have been a force to reckon with in the Regional Qualifiers of the Mumbai Region. They began the Reliance Foundation Development League campaign with a thumping 5-0 win over Mumbai City FC. Since then, there has been no looking back. With nine points in three matches, they sit atop the points table in the Mumbai Region. What's even more striking is the number of goals they have netted in the three games so far. With their attack firing in unison, they aggregate 11 goals in just three matches. That depicts their dominant run in the tournament so far.

After suffering a defeat against RFYC in their opening fixture, Mumbai City FC came up trumps in the next two games. With smashing victories over India Rush and PIFA, the islanders’ reserve team have made a good recovery. They find themselves just a shade below the table-toppers, RYFC with 6 points.

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The latest entrant to the RFDL family, India Rush FC, too have started off the tournament on a good note. The word ‘Fergie Time’ resonated around the Neville D’Souza Football Turf in Mumbai as India Rush SC clinched a nerve-wracking win in the stoppage time against Mumbai Kenkre FC in their opening match of RFDL. Dipu was the wrecker-in-chief. His brace sealed the deal for India Rush in a closely fought contest.

Brilliant link-up. Smooth finish. And an even better celebration. Watch the match-winning goal here :
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As things stand, the club are in the third position, with six points from two games.

With a solitary win and two losses from three games, another debutant, Kenkre FC will be eager to come back harder and string together a few victories under their belt in the upcoming matches. As things stand, Kenkre FC are fourth on the points table with just three points. PIFA Sports FC remain to be the only winless side after they ended up on the losing side against Iron Born FC. With more games to come, the battle is expected get more intense.

South Region

BFC begin their title defence in commanding style, Sreenidi Deccan FC maintain their unbeaten run.
The defending champions, Bengaluru FC, began their quest to reclaim their title with a 3-1 thumping win over Kickstart FC in the Regional Qualifier of the South Region. Harmanpreet Singh’s goal in the 22nd minute set the tone for the Blues. In reply, Kickstart FC’s Abhishek Powar converted the chance to level it in the 32nd minute. However, the blues know a thing or two about forging a comeback. Right after the goal, the Blues won a penalty and Vinith Venkatesh didn't hesitate to convert a penalty, handing the Blues the lead just before half-time. BFC forward Satendra Singh Yadav too joined the party, making it 3-1. In their second game, the team outpowered FC Mangalore 4-0 to clinch their second win of the season. A brace from Satendra and a goal apiece from Shreyas and Lalhmingchhuanga spurred the Blue Cots to yet another victory. Continuing the good form, BFC emerged victorious in the Bengaluru Derby with a thrilling 1-0 victory over their counterparts, FC Bengaluru United. With three victories on the trot, BFC are well on their way to reclaiming their throne.

Sreenidi Deccan FC is another team who made a very bright start with back-to-back wins. They kicked off the Reliance Foundation Development League with a comfortable win over FC Bengaluru United. The Deccan Warriors looked dangerous throughout the game. Tikkam Reddy, Sunil Bathala, and Pauminthang all shared the goals honours for Sreenidi FC. In the second game, substitute Vineeth Kumar’s goal was instrumental in SDFC’s second consecutive victory against Roots FC. However, they fell short against Chennaiyin FC and suffered their first defeat of the league. With six points in three matches, they are currently in the third position, narrowly behind Chennaiyin FC.

After a timid start, Chennayin FC have found their footing in the competition. In their opening game, they were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Mangalore. Following that they have staged a comeback with consecutive wins against Mohammedan Sporting Club & Sreenidi Deccan FC. With seven points from three matches, CFC is second in the points table. Having found the momentum, the team will look to keep the winning run intact in the upcoming matches.

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With a victory and a loss apiece, Kickstart FC and Roots FC have had a similar start to the RFDL season.

Roots FC locked horns with Mohammedan Sporting in their opening game at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Jonathon’s brace ensured that Roots FC clinched their first win of the season.

After an inspiring performance to hold Chennayin to a draw in the first game, FC Mangalore were outplayed by Bengaluru FC in their second fixture. Thus far, the team has managed to garner a solitary point from two matches as they find themselves in the sixth position.

Mohammedan Sporting Club and FC Bengaluru United are yet to open their account in the Reliance Foundation Development League.

RFDL in full swing
The race for qualification to the next stage is heating up. With the league having started across all other regions, there's plenty more action to come. Stay tuned.

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