KSA ride on Arihi Uchela’s hat-trick to ease past Central Bank

by Kaushal Shukla January 9, 2015

Karnataka Sporting Association claimed all three points as Arihi Uchela’s hat-trick earned them a 3-0 win over Central Bank in MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) Elite Division game at Cooperage on 9th January 2015.

It was a lively game from the off, as both teams were out of the blocks early. In the 15th minute Central Bank’s Scott D’Souza was allowed to run at the KSA defence as he unleashed a powerful shot on goal, which was well kept out by the KSA shot stopper Kishan Sulegai.

Eight minutes later, Arihi Uchela missed a great chance to put KSA in front as he failed to make a connection to a perfectly weighted cross from Muneer Shaikh from the left flank. The cross was begging to be headed home and it was a big miss from the KSA center forward.

A minute later at the other end, Melwin Waz broke free of the KSA defence as he chased down a pass. The charging goalkeeper failed to make any kind of contact to the ball as the chasing Melwin Waz was able to reach it and deliver a cross across the face of the empty goal. But KSA mananged to scramble it clear. Huge let off for Kishan Sulegai, the KSA goalkeeper.

He is called into action again a minute later when Scott D’Souza gets past KSA’s Shabbir Shaikh way too easily and drilled a low shot at the KSA goal. This time though. Kishan Sulegai was upto the challenge as he saved brilliantly to deny Central Bank the lead.
A couple of minutes later, Arihi Uchela was played in on goal and he was denied by a sensational one handed save from Sarfaraz Ansari. Uchela should have scored having had plenty of time to compose himself.

He was booked in the 31st minute when he unfairly stopped Central Bank from playing a quick free kick. Stupid from the KSA No.10. Central Bank nearly took the lead in the 38th minute when, a cross from the left flank was just behind Scott D’Souza’s run. It was a good bit of play from Central Bank.

KSA finally broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Aayesh Shaikh did brilliantly well to get past the Central Bank full back and pick out Arihi Uchela’s run who tapped in from six yards to put KSA in front.

KSA managed to hold the lead into half time as the referee drew an entertaining half to a close.

We had the first opening of the second half, with just two minute played as Sarfaraz Ansari produced an absolute blinder of a save to dent KSA a second goal.

But KSA got that opportunity when they were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute which was colly slotted home by Arihi Uchela a minute later. He got his hat-trick four minutes later as he showed great pace to get to the ball ahead of the Central Bank center back to beat the keeper and score from a very tight angle and make it 3-0 to KSA.

Arihi Uchela more than made up for his missed opportunities in the first half as he put KSA in sight of a victory. There were plenty of chances for both sides as we approached the final ten minutes of the game with Central Bank trying scale down a three goal deficit.
KSA were content with the scoreline as they dropped the intensity as Central Bank pushed hard for their opening goal. The game was increasingly being played in the KSA half.

The KSA goalkeeper produced a fantastic save in the fourth minute of stoppage time to ensure that KSA keep a cleansheet.

KSA’s victory was based on good decisive play by their forwards which tilted the game in their favor. Central Bank gave a good account of themselves but lacked a cutting edge in front of the goal as they left Cooperage empty handed.