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Giggs and Salgado in Premier Futsal Final
Ryan Giggs' Mumbai beat Hernan Crespo's Kolkata to book their place in the final against Michel Salgado's Kochi who beat Cafu's Goa.
Peddem Indoor Stadium in Goa played host to both semifinals of Premier Futsal on Saturday, as Ryan Giggs’ Mumbai 5s faced off against Hernan Crespo’s Kolkata 5s before Cafu’s Goa 5s hosted Michel Salgado’s Kochi 5s.
The first match saw the Mumbai-based side start off with a bang as Angellot scored in the very first quarter, before he doubled their lead in the very first minute of the second quarter.
Kolkata were still reeling from it and were struggling to connect their play as they did in their group phase matches. Foglia could have netted a couple of times for the boys in blue were it not for Cidao’s heroics under the bar.
At the stroke of half time. Ramirez added another goal for Mumbai after neat passing exchanges.
Looking fired up when coming out for the second half, Kolkata scored twice in two minutes through Carioca and Gabriel, adding spice to the game.
Carioca’s goal was however down to a mistake from Luis Amado, who tried to play his way into the opponent half. Rest of the quarter was a cagey affair with neither side wanting to concede.
In the final quarter, Angellot completed a memorable hat-trick as he rolled the ball into Cidao’s empty net with the keeper sent up field in search of the equalizer, and that was game over for Kolkata as Mumbai progressed to the final 4-2.
In the second game, both the legendary marquees stepped up as Salgado and Cafu rolled back the years to deliver a terrific display where they went toe-to-toe.
While Salgado was running the game for Kochi, Cafu helped his side have a few attempts on goal, but the first quarter went by goalless.
Things soon got physical on the pitch as neither side wanted to bow out at this stage, with two of the best fullbacks the world has ever seen putting on a spectacle.
Chaguinha soon gave Kochi the lead as he chipped the ball over Bebe, but Rafael very nearly levelled things up but was denied by the woodwork.
The third quarter was eventful, as Vampeta brought Goa back into the game with a thunderous shot past the Kochi goalkeeper.
However, they were not level for long, as Chaguinha scored his second as he made the most of the lack of coordination between the defense and the goalkeeper, making it 2-1 for Kochi, and booking a final berth for Kochi against Mumbai.