Unlike last year when the game ended 2-2, this year’s Celebrity Clasico at Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri Sports Complex was a total blockbuster with Mahendra Singh Dhoni dazzling the crowd with a brace as Virat Kohli-led All Heart FC thrashed Ranbir Kapoor-led All Stars FC by 7-3.
The game began on a fine note for All Heart FC as they took the lead in the very seventh minute when Dhoni’s long-ranger found the back of the net after being deflected.
Thala scores! ?⚽#CelebrityClasico https://t.co/nK171nAigf
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 15, 2017
The former India skipper made his presence felt on the ground as he could be seen everywhere, taking goal kicks, defending and attacking.
All Stars FC had their first real chance on the goal in the 22nd minute, but their forward blasted the ball just over the crossbar. A few minutes later, the Bollywood stars had almost equalised when Ranbir Kapoor’s long-ranger took the goalkeeper by surprise before coming off the crossbar. But just when the All-Stars began to dominate the proceedings, Dhoni scored a stunning free-kick to double his team’s lead.
Here comes another one from @msdhoni !! 2-0#ChampOfAll@ChennaiIPL @IndSuperLeague @BCCI @StarFootball pic.twitter.com/H3wrDN90E6
— Ashish Shinde (@iammrashish) October 15, 2017
And even before Ranbir Kapoor & Co. could recover from Dhoni’s goal, Anniruddha Srikanth tripled Kohli & Co.’s lead with a header off his captain’s corner.
2 Yellow Hearts doing it all for the All Hearts. @msdhoni @aniruda77 #CelebrityClasico
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 15, 2017
With the game slipping from their grasp, Shabir Ahluwalia pulled one back for his team as the entertaining first-half ended 3-1. However, six minutes after the break, All Heart FC restored their three-goal lead when Srikanth scored from the spot after a controversial penalty.
But the game was far from getting over as six minutes after Srikanth’s goal, Ranbir reduced the deficit with a brilliant shot.
2nd goal for ASFC by Ranbir Kapoor! #CelebrityClasico pic.twitter.com/fT1d5yk1po
— AllstarsFC_PFH (@AllstarsFC_PFH) October 15, 2017
Both the team had their chances after that before Kedar Jadhav put the game to the bed by scoring his team’s fifth after Kohli’s shot was blocked by Robinson and the rebound fell in front of India’s middle-order batsman. The goal-scoring spree, nonetheless, continued as Aadar Jain scored a consolation goal for the All-Stars just before the full time.
But even before the referee could blow the full-time whistle, Kohli finally got on the score-sheet by lobbing the ball over the keeper’s head in the injury time before Shikhar Dhawan scored from a penalty deep into extra time.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the game:
Mahi starts off the scoring. Virat gets the Sixxx-er and Gabbar finishes with the #Seven. Loads of fun for fans. #CelebrityClasico
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) October 15, 2017
It is the first time when @msdhoni checked the opening and @imVkohli, the finishing.#CelebrityClasico
— hemant garg (@hemantgarg12) October 15, 2017
Kohli chased a goal from the start of the match and finally gets a stunner. #CelebrityClasico
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/DHONIism/status/919557401077997573
#CelebrityClasico Forget the match Ashish Nehra on commentary is more interesting.
— Ankush (@ankushkrpanda) October 15, 2017
Ashish Nehra a classic 90's man.
Fan of games like Mario & Contra
Doesn't give a damn about #FIFA#CelebrityClasico @jatinsapru
@anant174— Mitul Bora (@Mi2L008) October 15, 2017
Nehraji should seriously think of joining star sports commentary panel after his retirement!!! #CelebrityClasico
— Dileep (@Viratholic) October 15, 2017
Ref you don't mess with Kohli. You just don't. You can't ban him for other matches so please play safe :p #CelebrityClasico #Kohli
— Thomas Jo (@straight_edge24) October 15, 2017
Kohli is tht player in ur futbal team where he kicks all d bad passes n blame d other player for not being in tht position #CelebrityClasico
— Rahul Krish Bhaskar (@Rahul_Bhas) October 15, 2017
If Pogba saw that Srikanth dab he would completely quit dabbing :p#CelebrityClasico2017 #CelebrityClasico
— Thomas Jo (@straight_edge24) October 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/namkosh/status/919560930827976704?
https://twitter.com/SparshTelang/status/919568389441327105?
Coaches of both teams in #CelebrityClasico
Sunil Chetri – #AHFC
Abhishek Bachchan – #ASFCI mean seriously, abhishek ..???
— Mitul Bora (@Mi2L008) October 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/MSDivyanshu/status/919573507385671680?
Sadly there r more people attending #CelebrityClasico football match then Indian national Football team game which take place @ same plc
— Prathamesh (@Pratham_10) October 15, 2017