Goal Hunterz 4 (Mahip Adhikari 2’, 36’, 40’, Mukul Singh Shoun 10’)
defeated
Bhawanipore FC 2 (Subho Khatua 28’, David Laltlansanga 32’)

AIFF Media Team

RUDRAPUR: Mahip Adhikari rose to the occasion with a sensational hat-trick as Goal Hunterz defeated Bhawanipore FC 4–2 to lift the AIFF Futsal Club Championship 2024–25 title at the Shri Manoj Sarkar Stadium – Shivalik Hall on Monday, August 18, 2025.

The victory capped off a flawless campaign for Goal Hunterz, who maintained their winning streak throughout the tournament and dethroned Bhawanipore’s much-vaunted attack in a high-octane final. Goal Hunterz led 2-0 at half-time.

Adhikari opened the scoring in the second minute before netting the decisive goals in the 36th and 40th minutes. The other goal was scored by Mukul Singh Shoun. For Bhawanipore, David Laltlansanga and Subho Khatua were the scorers.

The final was billed as a clash of philosophies. Bhawanipore, led by top scorer Nikhil Mali (16 goals in the tournament), had dazzled with attacking fluency throughout the campaign. Supported by the in-form Sutar and Laltlansanga, they had blown teams away with heavy scoring.

Goal Hunterz, in contrast, built their success on resilience, counter-attacks, and tactical discipline. Even without suspended striker Bijoy Gusai, who had been the tournament’s second-highest scorer, they displayed balance, patience, and ruthlessness when it mattered most.

Goal Hunterz wasted no time making their intentions clear. Within two minutes, Mahip Adhikari stunned Bhawanipore by turning swiftly after a layoff from Anmol Adhikari and smashing a left-footed strike into the top corner. Bhawanipore goalkeeper Augustin Savio D’Mello managed to get a touch, but the power carried it in.

The early setback rattled Bhawanipore, who struggled to impose their usual free-flowing game. Goal Hunterz, meanwhile, struck again in the 10th minute. Mukul Singh Shoun was denied at first in a one-on-one situation by D’Mello, but the rebound was quickly recycled by Ansh Gupta, who fed Shoun once more. This time the forward showed composure to slot into an empty net, giving Goal Hunterz a 2–0 lead at half-time.

Trailing by two goals, Bhawanipore threw everything forward after the break. Their talismanic striker Nikhil Mali was tightly marked, but the Kolkata side created chances through David Laltlansanga and Laltluangzela. Goalkeeper Aleef Rahaman Mollah stood tall, pulling off a string of saves to frustrate them.

The breakthrough finally came in the 28th minute. K Roluahpuia’s speculative shot from distance was parried away, but Subho Khatua pounced on the rebound to halve the deficit. Just four minutes later, Bhawanipore were level. A moment of slack defending from Shoun allowed Roluahpuia to steal possession and set up Laltlansanga, who skipped past Mollah and rolled the ball into the net. At 2–2, the contest was wide open, and momentum seemed to favour Bhawanipore.

But with the match finely poised, Goal Hunterz regrouped and relied on their big-match temperament. In the 36th minute, Anmol Adhikari was fouled inside the box by Jayesh Sutar, handing them a golden opportunity. Mahip stepped up for the penalty, saw his initial effort saved by D’Mello, but reacted quickest to bury the rebound.That strike restored Goal Hunterz’s advantage, forcing Bhawanipore into desperate all-out attack. With their defensive shape stretched, the gaps opened up, and Goal Hunterz capitalised. In the final minute, Mahip capped his performance with a third goal, rolling the ball into an empty net after a quick counter, sparking jubilant celebrations in the dugout.