Reserve Bank of India and Maharaja XI (Air India) pulled through tense penalty shootout battles before taking their respective place in the finals of the inaugural edition of the Late Shri Vishwanath Anchan Memorial Veterans’ Football Tournament 2017, conducted by the KSA and played at their ground, Cross Maidan.
Maharaja XI striker and former international Godfred Pereira runs with the ball towards the State Bank post
In the first semi-final contest, Maharaja XI prevailed over State Bank of India 4-1 via the tie-breaker after the game finished in a lively 0-0 draw. The second semi-final also finished in a goalless draw and Reserve Bank of India went on to overcome Golden Gunners 5-4 via the sudden death after the tie-breaker was locked at 4-all.
The Maharaja outfit comprised of former internationals Godfred Pereira, Jacinto D’Silva and Mohd. Yusuf Ansari and also Olympian hockey player Darryl D’Souza and international David Cardozo were engaged in a keen tussle for supremacy with State Bank who somehow managed to have the better of the exchanges and also defend stoutly.
However, in the crucial tie-breaker the Maharaja players proved better marksmen as they successfully scored from the first four attempts through Naushad Moosa, Joginder Thapa, Jacinto D’Silva and Simon D’Souza. On the other hand, State Bank could only convert one through Santosh More.
In the second semi-final, Reserve Bank dominated play and enjoyed more of ball possession. But Golden Gunner did well to keep pace with their opponents and defended well as the game ended in a goalless stalemate.
In the tie-breaker, the scores were level at 4-all after the first five kicks and in the sudden death, Sachin Narsappa converted for Reserve Bank. Substitute goalkeeper Nitin Shetty who replaced Pramod Shreedharan in goal blocked Mangesh’s try from the spot to help to Reserve Bank snatch a win and a passage to the final.
Results – Semi-finals: Maharaja XI (Air India) 4 (Naushad Moosa, Joginder Thapa, Jacinto D’Silva, Simon D’Souza) beat State Bank of India 1 (Santosh More).
Reserve Bank of India 5 (Savio Rodrigues, Dolfred Pereira, Clarence Remedios, Vasant Karkera, Sachin Narsappa) beat Golden Gunners 4 (Jonathan Fernandes, Saby D’Souza, Sheldon Fernandes, Osborne D’Souza).