MUMBAI, March 6: It was goalkeepers' day at the Cross Maidan as Central Railway defeated Goan Sports Association 5-4 and Orkay got past Tatas 3-1 to enter the final of the Veterans Football tournament.Both semifinals were decided by the penalty shootout with Orkay's custodian Shekhar Bangera performance being the highlight of the day. Bangera brought off two beautiful saves during the tie-breaker against Tatas. Despite a stretch in his thigh muscle, he dived full to his right to save John Alphonso spot-kick. He then dived to his left to thwart Gilbert Lobo's attempt from Tatas' fourth attempt.For Orkay, Jaya Salian, Remy Fernandes and AK Banerjee converted their spot-kicks while Poly Creado shot wide. Camillo D'Silva was the lone scorer for Tatas. Orkay controlled the game and attacked from the start, forcing Tatas into defence. Internationals Arthur Pereira and Bernard Pereira worked hard to score but Tatas' custodian Bandya Kakade denied them success. Orkay, their mid-field ably assisted by thedefence, failed to put away a fine opportunity when AK Banerjee shot straight into Bandya's hands.In the first semifinal, Central Railway custodian Assumption Varella displayed brilliant reflexes during regulation time but after that it was junior international Francis Fernandes' turn to show his prowess and skills. He brilliantly saved Timothy Periera's attempt, diving to his left.For the railways, Laslie Machado, Fernandes, Vidyadharan Nair, Derryk D'Silva and Canute D'Silva converted. While for Goans, Suresh Rawal, Roy Fernandes, Charles Mendonca and Sam Monteiro found the net. Central Railways' Fernandes came close to scoring the winner after dribbling past three Goan defender and unleashing a blistering right-foot shot. The attempt caught Peter D'Silva unawares but struck the bar and came back into play.
