ONGC punish wasteful Union Bank of India

by Kaushal Shukla December 18, 2015

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) scraped through to claim a 1-0 win over Union Bank of India in the Elite Division game of Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) at Cooperage on Friday evening. Ennock Annan’s goal in the first half was enough to secure all three points for ONGC after Union Bank of India passed up chance after chance in the game.

Union Bank of India looked sharp right from the outset against an ONGC side who had returned to league action after a gap of more than a month after being away playing private tournaments in Kolhapur and Goa where they returned triumphant. However, C.Pinho’s men were second best for most of the opening exchanges against UBI.

ONGC began to see more of the ball after the twenty minute mark and in what was ONGC’s best spell of the game, C.Pinho’s men made the breakthrough thanks to Ennock Anan who fired a cross to put ONGC in front in the game. However the setback didn’t dampen UBI’s resolve and Shravan Shetty almost restored parity for the Bankers with a clever piece of play to get past the ONGC left back and forced a good save off ONGC goalkeeper Bilifang.

Union Bank of India were making inroads in the ONGC defence on a regular basis but lacked the composure to make one of the many chances count. ONGC went into the break leading through the goal from Enock Annan, but had work to do.

The second half was more of the same and UBI’s Shravan Shetty missed a golden chance to put UBI level when he fired a pin point cross from Titus Uttkankar harmlessly into the side netting just five minutes from the restart. There were more chances for the Bankers which were to go begging and Mrunal Tandel missed a clear cut opportunity after being played through on goal. The UBI midfielder was guilty of waiting too long to pull the trigger allowing the ONGC defenders to crowd him out in the end.

UBI were perilously close to grabbing that equalising goal which was evading them, when Titus Uttkarkar struck a scissor kick onto the upright which fortunately for ONGC fell to one of their defenders who cleared the danger.

ONGC were struggling to string together moves and a number of misplaced passes meant last year’s runners-up remained under the cosh till the end before they showed their class in the end and quite professionally saw the game off. UBI were made to rue a host of chances which went begging as they failed to capitalize on their moments, leading to ONGC punishing them.

ONGC Coach C.Pinho mustn’t be too pleased with the overall performance of his team, but must be delighted with the result as his side grinded out a win when things didn’t really go there way.