Mohd Atiq nets the winner

NEW DELHI, August 12: Former league champions Shastri Club overcome a major hurdle for the title race when they defeated Hans Club 1-0 in...

NEW DELHI, August 12: Former league champions Shastri Club overcome a major hurdle for the title race when they defeated Hans Club 1-0 in a group B match of the DSA-SAIL Senior Division Football League Championship at Ambedkar Stadium here today.

In a fast-paced encounter, Shastri had an edge over their spirited opponents. In the initial proceedings, Shastri mid-fielders Hisham Ali and Nadir did a commendable job in creating inroads into the opponents8217; area but forwards Mohd Atique, Khalid and Samar Farooq Khan fumbled and failed to capitalise on the opportunities near the goal area.

The all-important goal came in the 31st minute. Shastri striker Mohd Atique half-heartedly shot from top of the box and the ball after deflecting off custodian Sanjay Kumar8217;s hands went in.

On changing ends, forwards of both sides missed easy sitters. In the closing stages of the game, Hans mounted heavy pressure against Shastri and forwards Vipin Rathore and substitute Arvind Rawat missed the targets from close range and denied their team from a sure equaliser.

Shastri have collected four points from two matches while Hans have one point from three matches.

Exhibition Match: Meanwhile, the exhibition match scheduled between DSA Veterans XI and City Cub Veterans XI, organised jointly by DSA and Delhi Veteran Football Club, on August 15 at Ambedkar Stadium, will be played as a charity game for the benefit of old-timers.

The Delhi Soccer Association has decided to share the proceeds of the match equally between three veterans viz. Bhiwani Benerjee, Yusuf Baba former internationals.

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Prominent veterans including Umesh Chand Sood, Aziz Qureshi, Ranjit Thapa, Arunesh Sharma, Bernard, Dev Raj Katyal, Syed Nasir Ali, Kewal Kaushik, Hakikat Singh, Manzoor Ahmed, Yakub Mohd, Chinta Ram, Loyal Messey, Pyre Lal, Harinder Bhandari, Digvijay Chauhan, Nasir Senior, Narender, Muni Lal, Abdul Aziz, Sharafat, Mukhitar, Matbir Bhist, Bachan, Kirpal Singh, Tushar Bhattacharya, D.K. Bose, Shanker Lal, Kristo Sen, Jamluddin, Sharifuddin, Ashok Ghosh, P.R. Chaudhary, Chaman Lal and Sri Pershad, will be seen in action.