Chetak come back in style

Phoenix drubbed: Chetak handed Phoenix their worst ever defeat since they got into the city’s elite group. The goal glut began in the 9th minute via Chetan Chavan. Phoenix fought back and levelled terms through Amol Kulkarni (15th).

Thereafter Phoenix caved-in. Amit Nevalli (16th, 25th), Rahul Kad (21st) and Chetan (45th) scored in quick succession. For Chetak the win was their second, in five matches, after the win in their opener against VOBA, and have seven points. For Phoenix, it was their first loss and have a point to their name.

Roopali on top: Roopali defeated Kirkeeans by a late second-half goal. Kirkeeans, who began with a 0-9 loss to Deccan XI `A’, found their striker Amon miss numerous chances. The closest when medio Octovius G played a through ball to him well into the second session, which was received well but the weak grounder grounder that followed nullified the move.

In another movement down the right H Sharma muffed a sitter after Cyril Bernard did the spade-work. The move was a result of a wobbling ball which foxed Roopali custodian Anup Jadhav just when he stooped to collect. With the ball deceiving him, Sharma, who lurked in the box, was left with a simple tap, but to his misfortune had defender Mohan Pandare clear in the nick of time.

At the other end stoic defending by Charles Francis and Ashok Pillay, denied Roopali on several goal-scoring counts. Their best effort, came minutes before their match-winner, when Bapu Raikar’s pile-driver was effectively saved by ‘keeper Jackson Francis. In the 67th minute, Bapu was again in the thick of action. His chip midway into his opponents half found Santosh Joshi in the clear on the left. Santosh, accelerating past the defence, finished with a placement to the left of the keeper. Roopali now heads group-B – with an all-win record from three matches, while Kirkeeans have lost both their matches.

Raju’s brace: Pune City Police (PCP), back from a rather disappointing run at the Maharashtra State-Police Games at Mumbai, where they lost to Amravati in the last-eight via the tie-breaker, rode on the brace by Raju Kadam to down a `luckless’ RHYB.

The loss was mainly due the RHYB keeper Avinash Samudre, who on both counts failed in his basics of `gripping the ball well’. The result, was obvious as both goals, after being `collected’ were let-in.

Strike-One came in the 13th minute. Sanjay Chorge chipping well found Raju Kadam on the edge of the 18-yard box, on the right. With the ball landing at Raju’s feet, the RHYB defenders Gopi Shanmugam, Rajan Rangam and Narendra Vanshir momentarily were found wanting. The split second lapse was enough for Raju to spot and attempt goal-ward, which `surprisingly’ landed in.

Changing ends the cops could of made it 2-0 had Uttam Kadam converted a spot-kick, awarded by referee Simon D’Gama, when RHYB’s defender Thangraj Parthasarthy was pulled up for handling the ball after Raju attempted a firm right-footer.

However, Raju made up for Uttam’s inability to score, when his casual 25-yarder saw the keeper fumble and conceded.

There will be no matches on Tuesday on account of Holi.