Policemen shoot out favourites City Club

Poona City Police clash with Indrayani while Roopali play Rahul Sports Club in the quarterfinals slated for February 11.

Both the teams Poona City Police and City Club were minus their regular custodians Khalid Parwani and Kumar Botre. But with Omprakash Paul under the Policemen’s bar and Zia Shaikhminding the City Club goal, there was not much of a difference.

It was Omprakash Paul who once almost left the ball into the net, but for a little fumble there, his presence made no difference to his team. Although he was slow in his approach, his anticipation made amends for that.

On the other hand, Zia Shaikh was not tested much as Omprakash Paul, but the little action he came out with was equally good.

The rough tackling by Poona Police defence by Mansoor Shaikh and Praveen Ghadge cut down the speed of the agile Domnic Albert who was threatening. Mathew Susainathan, along with Vijay Arland who made counter attacks, kept the Policemen’s defence always on alter. It was the lanky Milind Kadam with his very neat first timer and clean soccer who overrode the lapses of the other defenders with perfection.

The dependable Mujeeb Sayyed marshalled the defence for the City Club with Salim Shaikh coming up with blistering runs and good trapping. As usual Michael Pinto was all round the field and hisindividual game did not work against the attacking Policemen.

It was rather a sedate start for the encounter as none of the teams gave room for the defence to be tested knowing well their second string custodians. However City Club made the first positive move. Domnic Albert outpaced Mansoor and Praveen and through fed Mathew Susainathan, but the latters centre which beat Omprakash Paul went abegging as Vijay Arland was too late to reach there. This happened in the 24th minute of play.

In the 27th minute of play Policemen made inroads with Uttam Kadam and Steven Sundram combing well. Uttam tapped the ball pass the charging Junaid Alaktotkar, but Junaid who was beaten fell down and only managed to get his hands on the ball for referee to award the penalty. Uttam Kadam made no mistake in beating custodian Michael Pinto.

Three minutes later, Salim Shaikh’s infringement saw the Policemen gain a free kick almost from the centre line. Nishant Nanavre floated the ball and Uttam who was stationed in front ofthe empty net only succeeded ballooning the ball over the cross piece.

City Club looked a different outfit after the change but the cross piece and the goal post came to the Policemen’s rescue. Michael Pinto’s try from over the striking zone kissed the bar before over out of the game, in one such threat to the Policemen goal.

The hard work of the city was finally rewarded in the 61st minute.Sameer Shaikh pushed the ball to Michael Pinto and the latter got the better of two defenders and passed the ball to Junaid who later tapped the ball to Mathew Susainathan who slammed home from a very close range. The Police men had some close shaves in the last fifteen minutes but survived to take the shoot-out. Mansoor Shaikh, Asim Aditya, Uttam Kadam and Sanjay Chorge converted the spot kicks for Policemen while only Mujeeb Sayyed and Amjad Akalkotkar managed to put it across for the City Club.

Leading by Nitin Salunkhe’s 11st minute at the breather, Roopali scored through Bapu Raikar and Vinod More in the latterto wind up the Ammunition Factory, Kirkee’s campaign in the championship.

Today’s fixtures: NDA vs OBA 2.30 p.m; Sangam Young Boys vs Kirkeeans 4 p.m.