The Railway Derby: Western Railway thrash Central Railway in the Elite Division

by Siddharth Yadav February 13, 2016

Western Railway got the better of their arch rivals Central Railway in the Elite Division of Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) after a thumping 5-2 win at Cooperage Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Reuben D’Souza struck brace whereas Linekar Machado, Anil Pawar and Ravikant Naidu scored apiece for the Westerners. Meanwhile for Central Railway, Rashid Shaikh and Karim Shaikh got on the score sheet, which proved not more than consolation goals.

Western Railway got an early lead when Striker Reuben D’Souza volleyed home on the 6th minute. The volley was good enough to bury into the back of the net. Although Central Railway replied in their own way on the 19th minute when Striker Rashid Shaikh found himself at the end of a beautiful strings of passes, who showed great composure in the box went on to level the score with a sweet finish.

But Western Railway struck back a minute later to restore the parity. Ex Shillong Lajong attacker Linekar Machado scored a scorcher from distance as his shot went past the hapless goalkeeper into the back of the net. The free flow attacking football by Western Railway proved too superior for Central Railway.

Western Railway’s Somi almost scored on the brink of the first-half, not once but twice. His powerful shot from outside the box whispered past the left hand post just before his looping header sailed over the bar. But just when Central Railway thought they are gaining the momentum, Western Railway scored another.

Anil Pawar found Reuben D’Souza across the goal with a low cross, who comfortably poked the low cross into the empty net to give Western Railway a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Western Railway continued their impressive form in the second-half as on the 46th minute Anil Pawar brilliantly chipped over Central Railway’s goalkeeper Shibu to put the tie to bed. It got worse for Central Railway 15 minutes later when Ravikant Naidu tore apart the defense on his own and scored a wonderful goal to add Western Railway’s 5th goal of the evening.

Central Railway’s Karim Shaikh cut short the deficit to three goals 9 minutes later but it hardly made any difference as Western Railway enjoyed a memorable 5-2 win over their rivals.