Parshuramians enter semis; Indrayani shocked

Later, Parshuramians completed the semi-final line-up with a solitary second half strike to knock out Strikers.

In the semi-finals slated for Monday, Knights take on Wanowari S.C, while Parshuramians play Fatima. The final is scheduled for May 6.

It was pure ladyluck that favoured the Fatima lads, who despite holding an edge with ten players in the opposite camp failed to score in regular playing time.

It was their striker Titus Lobo, and the fleet-footed Clement D’Souza along with Micheal Vaz in the mid-field, who were doing most of the spade-work for them.

Sameer Fernandes, their keeper did come up with some telling saves during the game and later brought about one save which cleared their way into the last four. On the other-hand, Tiger Combine did blend as a team but with their main play maker Sushant Mahamuni being given marching orders which paralysed his teams smooth run.

Sushant who was warned by referee Amar Pardeshi, (who marshalled the proceedings from the centre-line!!) in the first-half by a yellow card was again involved with a similar foul which saw the official flash a second yellow card which meant expulsion from the game.

Micheal Vaz put Fatima ahead in the 10th minute. He combined well with Titus Lobo and Clement D’Souza and slammed home a volley into the nets.

The lead put the Fatima lads on the defensive, while Tiger Combine made most of it threatening the rival citadel time and again.

In the 40th minute, a misunderstanding between the Fatima defence costed them a goal. Defender Patrick D’Souza who was beaten by Umesh Kadam’s pace regained his ground, but his valiant attempt did no good to his team, as he only managed to get his hand allowing referee award a penalty. Saket Bhandare made no mistake with it to level the score with 20 minutes to go for the final whistle.

In the following minute, Sushant Mahamuni was ejected out off the field for rough play. Sushant who was in a good position, acted over ambitious which brought Patrick D’Souza down in the process, intentionally.

In the shoot-out, Clement D’Souza, Stanley Fernandes, Titus Lobo and Patrick D’Souza scored for the Fatima while Micheal Vaz hit straight on the make shift keeper Ganesh Jadhav. Saket Bhandare, Umesh Kadam, Suhas Chougle scored for Tiger Combine.

PARSHURAMIANS WIN: Nitesh Mehta scored the match winner in the 56th minute, as Parshuramians edged out Strikers to make the last-four.

Strikers did have a better share in the game. Nilesh Pawar, the Parshuramians keeper was the man to upset their calculations with his good reflexes and anticipations.

Nilesh Pawar did not have the required height under the bar but his reflexes was good enough to capsize the charge of the Strikers forwards especially Victor Tambi who has been doing most of the scoring for Strikers.

But at times he was over ambitious as he charged well in advance much before the but he was aided by the support from his defenders who combined well.

After a barren first half, Parshuramians in a sudden burst of pace earned a flag kick, Satish curved the ball into the goal, but the Strikers keeper Baptist Lobo who had just made a brilliant save punching the ball over the cross piece was beaten and Nitesh Mehta pounced on the ball to boot it home.

Today’s fixtures: (semi-finals) Knights vs Wanowari 4 p.m; Parshuramians vs Fatima 5 p.m