MUMBAI, MARCH 5: Goan Sports Association will take on Central Railway while Tata Sports will face Orkay Mills in the semifinals of the Veterans football tournament played at the Cross Maidan.Goans beat Orkay Mills 1-0 today, thanks to a header by Willie Mendonca from a cross from Roy Fernandes in the 20th minute. Mendonca's effort struck a defender before rolling into goal. Orkay custodian Shekhar Bangera thereafter denied any more chances to the constantly attacking Goans.Hardworking Orkay defender Jaya Salian extended duties to the mid-field as well. Salian came to his team's rescue, bringing off a fine goalline save to deny Goans' striker Colin Santos's after Bangera was caught on the wrong foot.The international Pereiras - Bernard and Arthur Periera - scarcely threatened the Goans' defence bolstered by Timothy Periera who donned country's colour in 1963 during an international tournament in Malaysia. Timothy 56, is the second-oldest player in the Goan side after international Deryck de Sousawho is guiding Mahindras in the National League.Central Railway's international Marto Gracious scored a beautiful goal, deftly placing a left-footer past Central Railway's custodian Assumption Varella.The nippy Kalyan Sarkar was doing most of the running on the flank and constantly keeping the Central defenders busy. The mid-field comprising John Alphonso, Ganghdharan and Camillo D'Silva served an adept supply line for the strikers as Tatas took a 1-0 lead into the second-half.Central enjoyed the measure over Tatas but hard work by forwards, junior international Francis Fernandes, Salim Shaikh and C D'Silva, brought efforts to nought with inadequate finishing. On most occasions, either the ball ran too fast or age seemed unequal to the task.Central's fate was decided by the match between Rashtriya Chemical and Fertilisers (RCF) and Mahindras. To Central's joy and RCF's chagrin the ensuing goalless draws sealed a semi-final slot for the railwaymen.RCF strikers Meen Gurung, Sushil Kumar, ShiriramShirdi and Francis Periera spurned chances galore with wayward shooting.Gurung attempting to shoot from a through pass by Nakul Dev fired well over the bar. Kumar had the easiest of chances, doing little justice to Stanley Nair's fine individual run by heading onto the bar.For Mahindras, Iqbal Hussein failed with to put away a fine chance after Noel Pinto did the spadework.
