The air in the breakfast hall, usually a hive of activity, was thick with a palpable tension. The previous matches had seen crucial points dropped, and the mounting pressure felt like a physical weight on every player's shoulders. The coaches moved with a brisk, almost urgent energy, their faces grim.
The Indian Super League (ISL) was a rigorous test of endurance and skill, structured as a double round-robin league phase. Every victory, earning three precious points, propelled a team closer to the ultimate prize of the regular season: the League Winners Shield. This gleaming trophy, awarded to the team topping the table, carried with it the coveted golden ticket – a direct spot in the AFC Champions League Two, Asia's elite club competition. But the season didn't culminate there. Following the league phase, the top six teams would advance to the playoffs, a knockout tournament (typically held in March). Here, the league winners and runners-up received direct entry into the semi-finals, while the others battled through eliminators. The victor of the playoffs would then be crowned the ISL Champion, lifting the prestigious ISL Trophy. Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan were currently locked in a relentless fight for that Shield, the stakes immense.
February 15, 2021. ISL Matchday. Mumbai City FC vs. Bengaluru FC.
Coach Lobera's voice, though calm, carried the weight of a high-stakes gamble as he read out the starting XI. Arka's name was notably absent from the list. He was benched, a tactical decision, the coach explained, aimed at introducing a different dynamic and managing his minutes. Arka, perched on the substitutes' bench, felt a familiar ache of competitive frustration. His eyes never left the pitch, watching with a mixture of hope and growing dread.
Mumbai City FC lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. The match unfolded agonizingly. Mumbai struggled for fluidity, their usual incisiveness dulled. Bengaluru, a team often dangerous but not necessarily a league leader, held firm and exploited every lapse in concentration. The final whistle blew on a frustrating 2-2 Draw. Two crucial points squandered.
Coach Lobera's jaw was visibly clenched. His gamble had backfired spectacularly, costing the team vital ground against a mid-table opponent. In the post-match debrief, his words were sharp, his gaze cutting across the dejected faces of his players. "We lacked urgency," he stated, his voice tight. "Dropped points at this stage are simply unacceptable. This decision... it flopped." The gravity of the situation was etched on every face; the Shield race had just become even tighter, with ATK Mohun Bagan extending their lead.
February 20, 2021. ISL Matchday. Jamshedpur FC vs. Mumbai City FC.
Arka was back in the starting XI, deployed on the right wing, a testament to his versatility and the coach's urgent need for his impact. But the team's collective form was still sluggish. Mumbai City FC maintained their 4-2-3-1 formation, with Arka injecting some much-needed dynamism on the right flank. The match was a scrappy affair, marked by defensive solidity from Jamshedpur and a lack of creative spark from Mumbai. The overall performance, including Arka's, felt subdued, heavy-legged, a shadow of their earlier season dominance.
Despite the team's struggles, Arka found a moment. In the 78th minute, a desperate long-range shot from a teammate ricocheted off a defender, the ball bouncing wildly in the crowded box. Arka, with his Precognitive Flow (Unique), instinctively knew where it would land amidst the chaos of bodies. He darted forward, a flash of blue, and the ball fell perfectly at his feet, a slightly lucky but perfectly timed opportunity from the scramble. He didn't think, just tapped it in from close range. GOAL!
It was a solo moment of contribution in an otherwise dismal team performance. The match, disappointingly, ended in a 1-1 Draw. Another precious point dropped.
Coach Lobera's post-match debrief was even more furious. His voice, a low, dangerous growl, dissected every error, every lapse in concentration. "Individual moments are not enough when the entire team performs like this!" he bit out, slamming a hand on the tactics board. The reality of two consecutive draws, meaning ATK Mohun Bagan had now pulled further ahead in the Shield race, hit hard. The February 28th clash was no longer just important; it was a do-or-die battle for the Shield.
The online world erupted. Indian football fans, confined to their homes, felt the tension acutely. Two consecutive draws had turned the upcoming ATK Mohun Bagan match into an existential showdown. Social media was a wildfire of anticipation. Memes exploded, depicting the Mumbai and Mohun Bagan mascots as gladiators, counting down to D-Day.
"This is it! Winner takes all!" one fan tweeted, garnering thousands of retweets. Another posted a montage of Arka's previous goals, including the jaw-dropping solo effort and his assists, tagging it: "The 16-year-old carrying a team. Unheard of in India. Impossible, they said. Tune in!" "India's first football superstar is just 16. Are we witnessing history?" – The Times of India Sports. The sheer rarity of a 16-year-old being at the heart of a top-tier ISL team, especially in such a crucial title race, made even casual viewers sit up. His viral reels had already drawn in a new legion of followers, all eager to witness this phenomenon. Millions of people, free in their homes and eager for any high-stakes drama, were glued to their screens, knowing this was the biggest clash of the season, with the fate of the Shield hanging in the balance.
Football pundits on various channels spoke in hushed, dramatic tones. "Mumbai have stumbled," one analyst on Star Sports observed, "They've ceded the advantage. Now, it's all down to this one match. Win, and the Shield is theirs. Anything less, and ATK Mohun Bagan are champions." Another commentator added, "The pressure on these young shoulders, particularly on Arka Sawant, is immense. Can he deliver in the biggest game of his young career?"
Arka, despite the external frenzy, found his calm in ritual. The night before the match, he made his usual call home. His family's familiar voices, grounded in the tranquility of their everyday lives, were his anchor amidst the swirling pressure. "Just play your game, Arka," his father's gentle voice advised. "Enjoy it." It was a simple, profound message, reminding him to trust his instincts, to embrace the moment.
February 28, 2021. ISL Matchday. Mumbai City FC vs. ATK Mohun Bagan.
The sterile atmosphere of Tilak Maidan belied the immense pressure radiating from every corner of the pitch. This was it: the ISL League Winners Shield decider. Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan, fierce rivals, stood poised on the brink of history. The winner would claim the Shield.
Mumbai City FC's Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Amrinder Singh
Defenders: Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall (C), Hernan Santana, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy
Midfielders: Ahmed Jahouh, Rowllin Borges
Attacking Midfielders: Arka Sawant (Right Wing), Hugo Boumous (CAM), Bipin Singh (Left Wing)
Striker: Adam Le Fondre
ATK Mohun Bagan's Starting Lineup (3-5-2):
Goalkeeper: Arindam Bhattacharya
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Tiri
Midfielders: Prabir Das (RWB), Lenny Rodrigues, Carl McHugh, Edu Garcia, Subhasish Bose (LWB)
Forwards: Roy Krishna (C), Manvir Singh
The referee's whistle shrieked, signaling the start of the final showdown. Arka, playing on the right wing, his heart pounding with focused intensity, immediately made his presence felt. He planned to play the full match, every minute crucial. From a bird's eye view, Mumbai's fluid 4-2-3-1 formation, with Arka's constant movement and interchanges, created intelligent passing lanes and dragged defenders out of position, allowing his teammates to exploit the gaps. His general pace, Agilty (Proficient (3)), allowed him to cover ground swiftly, but it was his explosive Acceleration (Short Burst: Phenomenal (5)) that was truly devastating in tight spaces.
In the 25th minute, Mumbai attacked, a precise passing sequence cutting through ATKMB's lines. Arka received the ball just inside the final third, a defender closing fast. He feigned a shot with his right, subtly shifting his weight, then pulled the ball back with the sole of his boot, instantly spinning to his left. It was a textbook Cruyff turn, a fluid, deceptive dance born from his Dribbling ( (2)) and Agility (Proficient (3)). The defender was left grasping at air. As a second defender lunged, Arka unleashed his Acceleration (Short Burst: Phenomenal (5)), bursting into the box. He took one more touch, setting himself, and with his Shooting (Proficient (3)), he fired a low, powerful shot that rocketed into the bottom corner. GOAL! The net rippled, a wave of euphoria washing over the empty stadium.
"GOOOOOAL! ARKA SAWANT! The 16-year-old prodigy has done it!" roared the online commentator, his voice cracking with excitement. "What a piece of skill! That's the trademark Cruyff-esque turn, pure brilliance from the youngster to beat two defenders! He just created that out of thin air in the biggest game of his life!"
Mumbai pressed relentlessly. In the 38th minute, a crucial moment: a Mohun Bagan attacker broke through their midfield. From a bird's eye view, Arka, despite playing on the wing, tracked back rapidly, covering space. With his Stamina (Competent (2)) holding strong, he slid in with a perfectly timed tackle at the edge of the box, winning the ball cleanly from Roy Krishna. His immediate Short Passing (Proficient (3)) found Ahmed Jahouh, who then launched a sweeping long pass to the left wing. The ball found Bipin Singh, who then cut inside and slammed it home. GOAL!
"Another one for Mumbai! And look at Arka Sawant, what a crucial tackle in his own half to start that move! He's not just about attacking, folks, he's a complete player in the making!" exclaimed the offline commentator, clearly impressed by his defensive contribution in the build-up.
Mumbai's third goal came in the second half. A beautiful team move, orchestrated through the center, culminated in a powerful header from Mourtada Fall after a well-worked corner. It was a pure team effort, solidifying Mumbai's dominance.
Later in the half, Arka, hungry for more, found himself with space on the edge of the box. He took a touch, aimed for the far corner, and unleashed another strike. This time, his Shooting (Proficient (3)), while powerful, lacked that final ounce of pin-point accuracy. The ball flew agonizingly wide, a frustrating near-miss that underlined the final piece he needed to polish.
The final whistle blew on a resounding 3-1 victory for Mumbai City FC! They had done it. They had clinched the ISL League Winners Shield!
The pitch erupted in a joyous frenzy. Players swarmed each other, hugging, laughing, tears mingling with sweat. Moments later, the official presentation began. A red carpet was rolled out to a podium near the center circle. Dignitaries, including ISL officials, stood ready. Mourtada Fall, his eyes gleaming, stepped forward, and with a roar of delight from his teammates, he lifted the glistening League Winners Shield high above his head. Confetti canons exploded, showering the pitch in blue and gold. The team celebrated, posing for photos, their faces etched with the profound satisfaction of achieving their primary season goal.
Amidst the celebrations, a separate announcement boomed over the stadium's loudspeakers: "The Hero of the Match for today's final league game, for his outstanding performance, one goal and one assist, and crucial defensive contributions, is... Arka Sawant!"
A wave of cheers, primarily from his teammates, erupted. Arka, still beaming from the Shield win, jogged forward, a slightly bewildered but proud smile on his face. He accepted the trophy, a smaller, elegant glass award, clutching it tightly as photographers flashed.
Back in the locker room, the celebrations intensified. Players roared, embraced, and showered each other with water in a chaotic ballet of triumph. Captain Fall, beaming, pulled out his phone. "Coach says we thank the fans!" he bellowed, starting an Instagram Live stream.
The live feed instantly exploded with viewers. Hearts, fire emojis, and congratulatory messages flooded the screen. Fall passed the phone around, players shouting thanks, singing chants, their faces flushed with triumph.
When the phone landed in Arka's hands, he flashed a cheeky grin. "What's up, everyone!" he yelled, leaning into the camera. As a teammate tried to photobomb him, Arka smoothly sidestepped, sticking his tongue out playfully. "Get out of here, bro!" he chirped, earning laughs from both his teammates and the delighted viewers.
"Hey, Arka! Tell them how old you are!" someone shouted from the background.
Arka chuckled. "Still 16, guys! Still 16 and still winning!"
"I still can't believe it," a foreign player, Adam Le Fondre, muttered off-camera, shaking his head. "Sixteen years old, and he's scoring in Shield deciders. Unbelievable. This kid's something else."
"Alright, Arka! Backflip!" another teammate challenged, egged on by the stream's comments.
Arka's eyes glinted. "You sure about that?" he teased, then stepped back, finding a clear patch of floor. With a fluid, almost effortless motion that showcased his Physicality > Flexibility: Elite (4), he launched himself backward. A perfectly controlled arc, a clean rotation, and he landed softly, arms spread, a wide, polished grin on his face. The room erupted in cheers, and the Instagram comments exploded with fire emojis and "OMG"s.
By securing the Shield with a match-winning performance, Arka had unequivocally fixed his place in the squad at just 16 years old. He wasn't just a prodigy anymore; he was a proven winner, a crucial cog in the team's engine, capable of performing on the biggest stage, whether on the right wing or through the center. His general pace, Physicality > Acceleration (Developing (3)), continued to improve steadily, complementing his already devastating Physicality > Acceleration (Short Burst: Phenomenal (5)). The journey had just begun, but the first major milestone was firmly in his grasp. Next, the playoffs, and the ISL Trophy.