Catz row past champions Shivajians

The holders Shivajians were without the service of the main strikers Jamshed Irani, Sanu Jacob and Edwin Moti. But there were ample moments of their domination which however was not transformed into success.

It could have been three times in the championship had the Shivajians won the match via the tie-breaker, but their strikers did not apply themselves during the shoot-out and they came cropper with just Kenneth Fernandes finding the net for them while, Gaurish Kumtha and Cerdic Fernandes shooting wide of the target with Sanjay Sangle’s left footer averted by Thundercatz keeper Anand Surve, who did not have a good outing in the regular play of time.

It was against Old Boys Association and Kirkee Blues, the Shivajians were triumphant from the dreaded spot. There has not been any consistency in the formation of the Shivajians team. Against OBA they were a complete new look team with Sanu Jacon and Edwin joining them against Kirkee Blues, and in their last match against the minnows SKF they were a complete squad but today again they were different.

Twelve flag kicks compared to five earned by Thundercatz would speak volumes about the way the Shivajians went about in their campaign, but they lacked courage and application to give away the match in the semifinal stage.

With nothing to lose, Thundercatz applied themselves well, with the Indian under-21 camp member Prashant Ghadge in full cry against the rushing Shivajians strikers. In the midfield Natraj Maduria and Ramkiran Marre doing the denting job. And their dependable Kenny Mani, Dhiraj Bali and Devendra Jerial threatening the rival defence time and again.

The Fernandes brothers, Cedric in the front line and Kenneth in the defence were the main live wires for the Shivajians. And Sushil Joseph who was off colour playing as a forward against SKF did a commendable job in the defence for the Shivajians.

The result would have been different only if the Shivajians had to captalised on the mistakes of the over ambitious Thundercatz Anand Surve’s whose justification in rushing forward to avert danger was incorrect. And it this error by Surve they could not hold on to the 1-0 lead they took in the 30th minute of play, as Shivajians levelled the score in the 34th minute of play. Off the free-kick taken just above the goal area, Surve run in front despite the a herd of his players, and Gaurish Kumtha nodded home the equaliser.

Sushil Joseph was clever in sliding down to cease the attack of the rivals forwards, but his attitude in attacking the player from behind costed them a goal. Beaten by Devendra Jerial pace, Sushil Joseph tackled from behind and for once the official was right in awarding the spot kick. And this time it was referee Simon D’Gama who had blundered in the OBA, Shivajians match. And Prashant Ghadge beat Nelson Po under the Shivajians bar, in the 30th minute of play.

Four minutes later, Shivajians found the equaliser off a in-direct kick just above the goal area. Cedric banged into the wall, and the ball ballooned over them and Vivek Nagul lobbed the ball in front of the goal after being charged by Thundercatz keeper Anand Surve, Gaurish Kumtha nodded home with much ease with the keeper out of place.

The way the game went about in the second session was clear that none of the teams wanted to take a chance and rely on their keepers to do the duty.

Gaurish Kumtha and Cedric Fernandes shot over the cross piece and Sanjay Sanjay Sangle’s try was saved by Anand Surve with just Kenneth Fernandes beating the rival keeper. Prashant Ghadge, Rahul Mankar and Natraj Maduria were successful for Thundercatz with Dheeraj Bali hitting straight on Nelson Po.

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