Late surge helps ONGC dismantle MS Police

by Kaushal Shukla March 28, 2015

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation proved too strong for a spirited Maharashtra State Police who despite showing some early fight went down 6-2 to the oil men in the Elite Division of the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) at Cooperage on a hot afternoon of 27th March 2015.

ONGC who had been wobbling to wins in the past week faced an MS Police side who were absolutely bludgeoned Indian Navy in their last game and came into this game with their confidence totally jaded.

But the policemen started the game brightly and very nearly scored from a Faraz Shaik free kick when the forward was inches away from latching on to it in the 8th minute.

MS Police showed great hunger in chasing down the ball as their quick start took ONGC by surprise. But just as it looked that ONGC might struggle to cope with MS Police’s early game energy, F. Lalmuanpuia capitalized on a slip by his marker to send a shot in the left hand side top corner in the 15th minute.

The MS Police goalkeeper Satish Kanojia was a mere spectator as he watched the ball sail past him into the net to give ONGC the lead, slightly against the run of play.

The goal gave ONGC the needed momentum as they began to turn on the heat. Steven Fernandes slipped in a clever pass to find the overlapping Dhiraj Meher whose cross was cleared for a corner three minutes later.

ONGC made the pressure count as they struck a second goal in the 22nd minute when Nitesh Monde’s pin point grounded cross from the left was tapped in by Kailash Patil to double ONGC’s lead.

But MS Police hit straight back a minute later, when Himket Dembre broke free of his marker to pull one back for the State Cops to make it 2-1.

ONGC very nearly replicate MS Police’s reaction as a cushioned header off a long ball from Kailash Patil finds Lavino Fernandes who beautifully controls the pass, only to blast his effort over from close range. It was a great chance for ONGC to restore their two goal cushion.

As the half progressed, ONGC got plenty of joy on their left flank where Nitesh Monde’s pace gave MS Police plenty of problems.

ONGC put daylight between them and their opponents with a third goal scored by skipper Kailash Patil who got his second of the afternoon.

ONGC went into half time very much in the driver’s seat, despite MS Police showing plenty of heart and promise.
MS Police started the second half as they did the first one, full of running and chasing down and made it hard for ONGC to get into their stride.

Their early second half efforts were rewarded as Himket Dembre scored in the 55th minute to once again reduce the deficit and made it 3-2 in ONGC’s favor.

ONGC replaced Lavino Fernandes who had a slight niggle, with Joel Sequeira at the hour mark. They followed this up with another change as Kailash Patil made way for Parwinder Singh a couple of minutes later.

The latter had a great impact on the game as his fresh legs started tiring the MS Police defence. Parwinder Singh finally put the game beyond MS Police when he coolly finished after being played in on goal by Steven Fernandes in the 75th minute.

A couple of minutes later, the same duo combined again but this time Parwinder Singh couldn’t apply the finishing touches. The fourth goal totally deflated the MS Police as the two substitutes gave them plenty of problems.

ONGC who were relentless in attack crafted a beautiful move to set Dhiraj Meher in space on the right. The right back finished off the brilliant move as he fired a shot over the goalkeeper and into the side netting. It was a fantastic finish from the ONGC No.24 who made it 5-2 in their favor in the 83rd minute.

Four minutes later, ONGC grabbed their sixth when Jatin Singh Bisht found the back of the net with a cracking effort from the edge of the box to complete yet another drubbing of the MS Police.

The Police shot stopper suffered an injury in the dying minutes when substitute Parwinder Singh’s high boot knocked Satish Kanojia down. It was a reckless challenge by the ONGC forward.

SatIsh Kanojia was stretched off to be replaced by Mosaid Khan.

The referee blew for full time as ONGC ran out comfortable winners in the end over a MS Police side who showed some great spirit to comeback twice, but in the end ONGC had too much in store for them.