UBI move into quarter-finals

Income-Tax got their equaliser in the 88th minute, when Camilo Noronha trapped a Neil D’Costa pass and unleashed a powerful shot from close that went past a stunned UBI goalkeeper Naddem Ansari.

I-T paid the price of missing a spot kick which was awarded by Nagpur referee Stanley Gregory when UBI defender Sachin handled a cross from Camilo. Neil D’Costa’s spot kick hit the right post and the attempt off the rebound by Baptist Lobo too went abegging.

UBI dominated the game and played with a plan. Kamal Rajput, Ryan and Arshad Ansari in the forward line gave a tough time to the I-T defence. But the UBI strikers were guilty of missing the target at least five occasions in the opening 25 minutes.

UBI’s defence line of Anil Tomar, Julian and Sachin played like a solid wall, which I-T forwards found it diffuclt to breach.

The bankmen almost increased the tally, in the 63th minute, when Arshad won a challenge from IT defender Kaleem Siddique. The UBI striker dribbled past the custodian Rajendra Sawant but failed to put the ball into the open net.However, with scores level (1-1), the encounter seemed heading for a shoot-out. But Ryan D’Souza saved UBI the blushes with the 89th minute goal. Kamal Rajput’s through pass saw D’Souza pounce on it and wasted no time in slotting it into the net.

UBI will take on Bank of India, direct entrants to the quarters, tomorrow.In yesterday’s matches, Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), Goa defeated Maharashtra State Police (MSP) 4-1 and entered the semi-finals of the Mini Rovers Cup.MPT scored through Vishant Pednekar (44th minute), John D’Souza (80th) and substitutes Marshall Coutinho (85th) and Mario Coelho (88th minute). Abdul Abid scored the only consolation goal for the losers.

Western Railway trounced Sangli DFA 8-4 in the other match of the day. The winners were leading 4-1 at the breather.