UBI go down fighting to BoI

Aug 17: Two goals in a seven minute period helped Bank of India defeat a resurgent Union Bank of India UBI in the WIFA-conducted Gulf Oil...

Aug 17: Two goals in a seven minute period helped Bank of India defeat a resurgent Union Bank of India UBI in the WIFA-conducted Gulf Oil Super Division Football match at the Cooperage today.

BoI opened the scoring in the last minute of the first-half when Anton Saldanha converted a Chandrakant Poojary pass into a goal. And Devdas applied the finishing touches to the second goal with a diving header after Michael Furtado had drawn the UBI keeper, Nadeem Ansari, out and lobbed over him. Both goals came from flag kicks.

But UBI were not defeated by the double blows. They, in fact, came back stronger and reduced the margin through Francis Pereira in the 70th minute. UBI8217;s sustained pressure on BoI goal after conceding the two goals paid off when Vijay Kunder8217;s cross over the confused BoI defence was met by Francis Pereira, who just thrust his foot out to deflect the ball in.

Just before that, Francis had been unlucky when his header off Kunder8217;s cross from the left hit the right post.

In fact, UBI had also started well, dominating the midfield and kept pushing forward without any openings. The first move came as late as in the 22nd minute when the hard-working Ryan D8217;Souza was fed by Francis.

BoI, who mostly depend on the flanks for their attacks, were denied often by the UBI defence which did a good job in the air. BoI were kept at bay and their first opening accrued only through a defensive lapse when Suresh Mendon, the right stopper, cleared the ball straight into Chandrakant Poojary8217;s feet. Poojary lobbed it over and Michael Furtado8217;s back volley went over.

The evidence of BoI8217;s ability to score from flag kicks was displayed by the bankers three minutes before they scored the goal. Michael Furtado curled one in dangerously and only a goal-line save from Michael D8217;Silva helped keep the UBI citadel intact. Three minutes later it was to fall.

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It was in the second half, after they were two goals down, that UBI discovered a chink in the BoI defence right-wing back Shashikant Shetty. Shetty was laden foot and made so many errors, that it was a surprise that he was not replaced. He nearly conceded a penalty, tripping Ryan D8217;Souza just outside the box.

UBI ganged up on the left and planned their attack from that flank. They got their goal with a cross arising from that flank. Mercifully for BoI, UBI could not score any more goals despite the losers virtually laying siege on the former8217;s half.

In a First Division match, Catholic Gymkhana trounced Good Shepherd 6-1. Keenan Oliver was the star in the rout, scoring the last four goals. Brette Duarte opened the account while Walter Pinto made it 2-0. Salahuddin Thakur reduced the margin for the losers.