Two quick fire goals in the first half help Union Bank brush aside RCF

by Kaushal Shukla January 11, 2015

Union Bank of India registered a comfortable 3-0 win over Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers in the Elite Division of MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) game played at Cooperage on 10th January 2015.

RCF and Union Bank of India were coming into the game on the back of contrasting results, the former losing their previous game 4-3 to PIFA, while UBI thrashed Central Railways 4-0.

The game got off to a slow start as there were very few chances in the opening 15 minutes, much to the displeasure of the crowd who had turned up in decent numbers for the game.

RCF’s Raju Meetei went close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes, as his effort from a tight angle was saved by the UBI goalkeeper. The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute as UBI took the lead through Manish Koli’s sensational drive which flew in the top corner, giving RCF’s Narender Singh no chance.

Manish Koli did well to capitalize on an error from RCF center back Vrundavan Duna who gave the ball away before unleashing a powerful strike on goal. It was a fantastic finish from the UBI No.20.
Two minutes later, UBI doubled their lead, this time from a breathtaking counter attack resulting from an RCF corner, as UBI’s Aaron D’Costa ran into space to play in Titus Uttankar who brought the ball under control and fired a low shot into the bottom corner of the RCF goal. It was neatly taken goal by Titus Uttankar to give UBI a two goal cushion.

RCF’s Vrundavan Duna was having a bad day in the office, when he was booked for a rash tackle on a UBI player in the 29th minute. Three minutes later, his evening was ended as the RCF manager replaced him with Gadam.

As we approached the the half way mark in the game, RCF were slowly getting back into the game after two quick setbacks. Raju Meetei put a header just wide of the goal in the 42nd minute.

But UBI continued to create chances as, Pratik Koli’s header is millimeters off the right hand side post, after the striker met a cross from Titus Uttankar from UBI’s right flank.

UBI preserved their two goal lead as the teams went into the break. UBI were the better team in the first half and the scoreline was totally justified.

The second half started in a flash, as UBI’s Shanon Perreira found himself in space in front of goal, but his shot was just wide of Narender Singh’s goal.

Three minutes later, it was RCF who had Raju Meetei through on goal, but he toe poked the ball inches wide. It was a great chance for RCF to get back in the game which was wasted by one of their most trusted players in Raju Meetei.

RCF were unlucky not be just one behind UBI, as they were denied by the upright in the 62nd minute, when substitute Gadam’s driven shot hit the right hand side post. RCF were again having a good spell of possession, but were failing to make that all important breakthrough.

UBI replace goal scorer Manish Koli with Shravan Shetty in the 64th minute as they sought a third goal which would kill the game. UBI got that goal in the 76th minute when RCF failed to clear a lobbed pass from Sanjay Rathod, as Pratik Koli pounced on the loose ball to finish past the RCF goalkeeper. It was a killer blow for RCF, who had very little time to change the result.

UBI missed a great opportunity to add a fourth goal in the stoppage time as RCF were had dropped the intensity knowing the game was up.
The referee blew for full time as UBI ran out deserved winners against a good RCF side to register back to back wins in the Elite division.