Jahangir frustrates Tatas

It may be recalled that Tatas had also made their exit in the first-round itself in the recently-concluded Tegh Bahadur Championship when they were beaten by Fr Agnel, also via the stroke8217; duel. The Bombay House boys are, however, placed atop the league ladder in the BHA League.

Earlier in the evening, Indian Navy began their campaign on a rousing note when they were thrashed Companeroes 6-1 with a precision and well-drilled display. They were up 4-1 at the breather.

M Lokhande 2, DS Kadam 2 Amos Bara and S Gurde were the goal-getters for the sailors who meet Mumbai Customs next in the quarter-finals. Dudley Drego converted a stroke8217; for Companeroes8217; consolation goal.

Tatas were the better side. Their four-men midfield, comprising Viren Rasquinha, Vikram Pillay, Enrico Fernandes and Irshad Ali, held sway in the proceedings right through. Their three-pronged attack of BN Madan, Claes Ferreira and Raju Bagade, however, flattered to deceive after taking the lead through Bagade in the fifth minute. Bagade was guilty of missing a couple of other good chances.

MbPT, who employed a crowded defence in which Amin Shaikh, Deepak Kotian, Abhijit Shirsat, Javed Shaikh and 8216;keeper Jahangir stood out, had just a couple of good attempts at the Tata goal. Tata goalkeeper AP Girish saved one but was beaten by MbPT left-winger Leonard Pereaira, who scored off the pads, after a hard attempt by striker Digvijay Naik was parried by the goalkeeper.

In the tie-breaker, Abhijit Shirsat, Javed Shaikh, Digvijay Naik and Salauddin Siddique confidently converted for MbPT. Shreedhar Murthy and Enrico Fernandes made no mistake for Tatas, while Vikram Pillay and Viren Rasquinha failed to getter the better of MbPT 8216;keeper Jahangir.