UBI keeper’s hand in crucial RCF win

Earlier, Central Railway, eager to snap out off a run of humbling defeats, defeated Bank of India (BoI) with two second-half goals. While Railway’s chances of qualifying for the second stage have exhausted, the loss struck a double blow for Bank of India. With 12 points (7 matches), BoI now need to win one of their remaining matches, against UBI and RCF. Coach SN Devdas appeared worried, as the bulwark of his defence, his tireless rock of Gibralter, Evaristo Cardoz, pulled a hamstring andplayed no part in the second half of today’s game. From Devdas’ expression, Evaristo looked uncertain for the remaining ties.

DULL TIE: The RCF-Union Bank tie was a dull affair, with the odd bounce and the defensive approach conspiring to dry up goals and strategic progress. RCF gained momentum in the closing moments of the first half, and substitute Pratap Tirkey’s header off a Balin Singh free-kick was headed goalwards in the 40th minute. Defender Steven Dias stuck his right foot out and effected a goal-line save. The UBI citadel fell four minutes later, when Douglas D’Sena received a defence clearance and volleyed it towards the UBI goal.

Offering a palm instead of a fist could usually put you in contention for a Nobel Peace Prize. But if you happen to be a goalkeeper, and the hands are out to grasp a sphere hurtling towards you at tremendous speed, the goalkeeping manual is clear about the correct procedure — forget the peace prize, use the fist. Ansari didn’t, and the ball rebounded into thegoal after he had made a valiant jump, a mite too early, to reach it.

C RLY WIN: Central Railway coach Irenio Vaz rung in the changes in the second half, bringing in Arshad Ansari (54th) for Pradeep Saha. The move paid off, as Arshad, two minutes after taking the field, dribbled past Umesh Shetty, sidestepped custodian S Verma, found the net with a shot that ricocheted off the left post. In the 63rd, Augusto D’Silva’s volley from the right was too good for Verma.