Pratik Koli’s late strike rescues Union Bank of India against Kenkre FC

by Siddharth Yadav February 5, 2016

A late strike by Pratik Koli helped Union Bank of India (UBI) to escape with a point against Kenkre FC in a 1-1 stalemate in their MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) Elite Divison clash at Cooperage Stadium on Friday evening.

Arish Sutaria broke the deadlock on the half an hour mark to put Kenkre FC in front, but an unlikely goal by inform striker Pratik Koli late in the second-half secured UBI with a point.

It was second time in the row that Kenkre FC has failed to defend their lead. They were 2-1 up against Air India till the 85th minute in their last match, but went on to concede two late goals in the end.

Both Union Bank of India and Kenkre FC had a shaky start. It took a while for them to settle into the game on a heated evening.

Kenkre FC got the breakthrough on the 30th minute. Yao Bernard brilliantly found Arish Sutaria with a lobbed pass, the number 12 comfortably finished the lobbed ball after controlling from his chest to give Kenkre a much needed lead.

Union Bank of India went into the break with a goal down in hope to get things back on track in the next fourty-five minutes.

UBI had a good second-half compared to Kenkre, who looked a bitty shaky at the back. Shravan Shetty and Pratik Koli kept on creating havoc for UBI.

UBI got good amount of chances to score the equalizer. Substitute Ramesh Singh made an fantastic impact on the game when he was brought on midway into the second-half.

The all important equalizer finally came on the 84th minute. Ramesh Singh found Pratik Koli with a fantastic ball, the number 10 brilliantly controlled and squeezed his shot beside the Kenkre FC’s goalkeeper Narinder Singh to level the score.

The last 10 minutes were dominated by UBI who were desperate to score the winner. The Referee blew the final whistle as both the outfit had to share the spoils.