Futsal Club Championship 2021: Delhi FC became the inaugural champions

Delhi FC became the first-ever champions of the inaugural season of the Hero Futsal Club Championship at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, on Saturday, November 13, 2021.

The team rounded up against Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting in the Finals. Whom they thrashed with a 7-2 margin, to be crowned champions of the Hero Futsal Club Championship 2021.

Nikhil Mali again stood out from the rest, as he netted five goals in the game, bringing his total tournament tally to 28 goals. Mali has scored at least three goals in every match in the Futsal Club Championship.

How the Match was Progressing:

The Futsal Club Championship 2021 match started with Delhi FC attacking from the start. Just a minute into the match, the star performer Nikhil Mali rattled Mihir Sawant with a threatening shot, but the goalkeeper was able to keep the ball at bay. About a few moments later Delhi FC broke the deadlock with Peka putting the ball into the back of the net, with a beautiful curler shot into the top-left corner, beating the goalkeeper.

As the match carried forward both teams managed to maintain high pressure on each other throughout the game. As a result, none of the sides were able to take control of the game. However, the Delhi FC was being more impactful on Mohammedan FC, but the team from Kolkata was able to keep them at bay. Jayesh Sutar had impacted a lot for Mohammedan when he came on. As he made sure that Nikhil Mali stayed quiet on one end and also played his parts for the attacks that his side tried to keep together.

A lot of Attacking Chances:

Delhi FC has been a phenomenal attacking team in this tournament. Moreover, Scott Moraes has been a huge asset for the team in goal as well. Jayesh Sutar was the man who created the first real chance of the game for Mohammedan when his shot took a deflection off a defender. However, Moraes reaction was brilliant, to parry the ball away. Also producing a miraculous double-save as well, denying Sherman Vaz in the process.

The Black Panthers leveled the scoresheet at the 12-minute mark. Jayesh Sutar's vision traced Scott Moraes who was off his line and scored a spectacular chip from his half. The excitement did not last long for Mohammedan SC. Nikhil Mali scored his 20th goal of the tournament, giving his side the lead moments before the half-time whistle.

Beginning of the Second Half:

The second half was equally exciting as the first half. It again began with no sides giving any space to their opponents in the attack. At the 26th minute mark, Delhi FC got the breakthrough goal that they were looking for. Rohit Mulchandani smashed the ball into the back of the net with a powerful strike after Nikhil Mali laid it into his path from a free-kick.

That goal changed the whole momentum at Delhi FC. As they sparked up their game with each passing moment. Nikhil Mali again found the net with his second goal of the game in the 28th minute, making it 4-1 for the capital side.

Delhi FC Dominance:

Mohammedan got their comeback opportunity with a penalty at the 30th-minute mark. But Mihir Sawant's shot sways over the crossbar. Just 2 minutes later, the inevitable moment occurred as Nikhil Mali scored his third goal of the game, completing his fifth hat-trick of the tournament.

Snedden found a consolation goal for Mohammedan FC just a minute later. Again Nikhil Mali scored from the spot as well on the other end, making it 6-2.

With this match at the brink of ending, Mali scored his fifth goal of the match, taking his tally to 24 goals in the tournament and giving his side a 7-2 victory in the final.

List of Awards:

Fair Play Award: Mangala Club

Best Goalkeeper: Scott Moraes (Delhi FC)

Top Scorer: Nikhil Mali (Delhi FC)

Most Valuable Player: Nikhil Mali (Delhi FC)