Mohun Bagan FC held West Ham United FC to a 1-1 draw at the Reliance Corporate Park (RCP) in Navi Mumbai today in the opening fixture of the Reliance Foundation presents Premier League Next Generation Cup. The third-place occupants of the recently-concluded Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) were within touching distance of taking away three points from this game. However, a late goal by the Hammers’ substitute Favor Fawunmi ensured that the incumbent FA Youth Cup champions walked away with a point from this game. 

The Mariners started off positively as they didn’t peg back and took the game to the opposition right from the beginning. They were organized enough to thwart attacks at the back and regularly made inroads into the West Ham defense by initiating some incisive passing patterns through the middle. They immediately found a breakthrough in the 10th minute, as the backline recovered possession and moved it up the field quite seamlessly. 

In another match of the competition, South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) team Stellenbosch FC kicked off their title defense of the Reliance Foundation presents Premier League Next Generation Cup in style as they defeated Bengaluru FC 1-0 at the Reliance Corporate Park (RCP) in Navi Mumbai today.