The first half was an even battle as both teams fought it out and did not spare an inch. As the mercury rose, both teams slugged it out and tried to find gaps in either defence. Given the way things unfolded in the first half fans may have been forgiven for thinking that the game was headed for a stalemate!

Akshay Saptoji was superb for Central Bank at the back. His game was an education for any aspiring defender!

Piyush Koli was instrumental in setting up most of Dena Banks’ attacks. Just when the game was meandering towards a goalless draw in popped Ansari who scored off an opportunistic header from a corner in the 72nd minute.

That goal was the much needed oxygen for Dena Bank who grew in confidence and piled on the pressure. They struck again through Mascrenhas in the 88th minute to effectively shut out Central Bank from the contest.

It was a moment of magic from Ansari which opened the floodgates for Dena Bank as he ghosted past his marker to hit home the decisive goal. Central Bank’s citadel had been breached and they suddenly looked jittery!

It resulted in another goal as their back line crumbled and gave Mascrenhas enough space to hammer home the final nail in the coffin. The 2-0 scoreline surely doesn’t reflect as to how hard Dena Bank had to struggle to pick up the three points! If it weren’t for Ansari’s goal the game surely was headed to a goalless draw!

Central Bank can take consolation from the fact that they made their opponents slog for the entirety of the game.

A pity that they couldn’t replicate their well drilled defensive performance in attack as well!

Also Read: Soccer XI defuses depleted Sebastian

Also Read: When life came full circle for Pereira at Tilak Maidan!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian football.

The post Elite Division: Dena Bank strike late to breach Central Bank citadel appeared first on Football Counter.

Teams from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Odisha participated in this All India Tournament which was organised from 23rd January to 28th January.

On the road to final, Central Bank of India (CBI) defeated Vishakapatnam and home side Moil Bharveli to set up a final showdown against Rahul Club (Nagpur). In the quarters against Vishakapatnam, goalkeeper Ashish Tawade made a crucial save in the penalty shootout which helped them to clinch a victory, whereas, in the semi-final, Rishikesh Shinde set up Nihar Jadhav who scored the only goal of the match.

In the final, Rishikesh was fouled inside the penalty area which gave CBI a huge opportunity to go ahead but Rithick Mukherjee’s following penalty was denied. CBI didn’t manage to break Rahul Club’s resilience as they had to settle for the runners-up trophy.

Throughout the campaign, Rishikesh Shinde and Nihar Jadhav played an immense role for CBI alongside Andrew Burthelo, Rithick Mukherjee, Gaurav Gangbhoj and Narinder Singh. Andrew won the ‘Emerging player of the tournament’ while Rithick Mukherjee won the ‘Best defender of the tournament’.

Central Bank of India (CBI) squad:

Goalkeepers: Narinder Singh and Ashish Tawade.

Defenders: Rithick Mukherjee, Raj Bhoir, Gaurav Gangbhoj, Numan Ansari, Uzair Ansari

Midfielders: Andrew Burthelo, Kevin Patrick, Vicky Shah, Nihar Jadhav and Rishikesh Shinde.

Forwards: Arbaaz, Dylan and Dhruvit.

Coaches: Chris Fernandes and Caitano

The post CBI ends up as runners-up in All India Tournament appeared first on Football Counter.

Although it was Central Bank of India (CBI) who opened the scoring through Kuldeep Maschi, the mighty Air India responded brilliantly to score two first-half goals to register consecutive wins in the ongoing Elite Division campaign.

Air India came in the match on the back of a comprehensive 8-1 win over Mumbai Strikers. Despite Rinaldo Fernandes absence from the squad yesterday, Godfred Pereira’s side made sure to hold their nerves against an energetic CBI side.

In the 8th minute of the match, Air India’s Pramod Pandey handled the ball in the penalty area which gave CBI a huge opportunity to open the scoring. Defender Kuldeep Maschi stepped up and comfortably placed his effort in the back of the net.

Air India responded in their very own style as experience defender Santosh Koli levelled the score midway into the first-half with a looping header. A few minutes later, Air India scored again and swiftly took a cushion lead.

Aaron D’Costa found Pratik Koli across the goal who tapped in from close range to give Air India a 2-1 lead. The second-half saw Air India defending for their lives to hold their solitary lead. New signing Tejas Raut, a lanky defender, was brought in to shield Air India’s goal.

Amey Bhatkal was also introduced late in the second-half who had a wonderful time up front against CBI’s defenders. Twisting and Turning in, the young player displayed an impressive performance which left CBI’s defenders in a worry.

After this win, Air India is comfortably sitting at the top with six points in two games with a staggering goal difference of +8. As for CBI, they performed quite well against an organised Air India side and they should take away positives from the match.

The post Air India makes it two wins in a row appeared first on Football Counter.

The post Air India thumps Central Bank of India 3-0 appeared first on Football Counter.

The match saw a fine hat-trick of goals from the lone scorer Rishikesh Shinde which resulted in a 3-0 win over the Red & White outfit.

In the 34^th minute,  Russel Galbano of Central Bank put forth a delightful cross from the left flank in the box which met Rishikesh Shinde, who lofted a low shot using his left foot & putting it past the keeper, making it 1-0.

Sherwyn Chang, the captain of the trailing side in the 35^th minute tried an attempt on the goal but was wonderfully saved by CBI’s goalie Siddarth Lavande, later three minutes were added before the half time break which was well earned by Chang who earned a free kick from just outside the box but nothing got to be added on the score sheet as his teammate shot it far wide of the post.

Half Time score line: Central Bank 1-0 KSA.

As the second half was started by KSA, they got in game with attacking football in an attempt to score an early equaliser but soon in the 46^th minute the blue team took advantage of a counter-attack which got on to the feet of Nihar Jadhav who put in a promising cross from the right flank which met Rishikesh Shinde again who headed it in powerfully past the keeper and making it 2-0 for the blues.

Soon the first substitution of the game took place in the 49^th minute from the Red team as Kenneth Desena made way for Bishaw Thapa. In the 57^th minute, Chang got on to the referee’s notebook for a foul on Raj Bhoir.

A penalty for the blue team, as in the 65^th minute, Nadeem Khan was got down by a KSA defender as the brace holder stepped on to take the penalty who lashes it in the right-hand side of the post that marked his hat trick of the game, also seen to be the last goal of the match.

KSA trying really hard to attack with the ball conceding numerous free kicks for themselves on both the flanks but the leading side were defending the ball pretty well at the back.

In the 71^st minute, another yellow card was conceded by the blue team player Melywin Vaz with a missed time challenge on Chang.

Another substitution from the Red team in the 75^th minute got Saine in place of Franco Dominic.

The second yellow card in the 77^th minute for Raj Bhoir saw him the first red card of the game which got CBI down to 10 men but it didn’t really affect the leading side.

Injury to Nihar Jadhav from the blue team in the 82^nd minute forced its coach to make a substitute by getting in Ravi Sonawang & after 3 minutes the hat trickster was called out for Oylen Serrao as he had done his job in the game.

Another red card of the game awarded to Chang as he was booked for a challenge on the blue team player made it 10 men against 10 in the 88^th minute.

An extra five minutes were added which only saw a substitution for the blue team as Melywin Vaz came out making way for Sunny in the 94^th minute.

Resulting Fulltime score as Central Bank of India beat KSA by 3-0.

The post Rishikesh Shinde’s Hat trick sinks KSA in MDFA Elite Division appeared first on Football Counter.

What turned out to be a close contest, John Coutinho’s penalty in the second half proved enough for Mumbai Customs as they registered a narrow 1-0 victory over Central Bank of India (CBI). An unfortunate mistake by Rithick Mukherjee of CBI at the 62nd minute brought the penalty on the platter for Mumbai Customs. Another yellow card from CBI was from Sunny Gil in the first half at the 25th min, which is also his second yellow card so far, the first yellow card was in their previous match against Air India.

CBI headed towards the match on the back of a thumping 5-0 win against Kenkre FC in their opening game of the campaign. A free flowing attacking display left Kenkre FC in shambles as CBI marched towards a fine victory.

Whereas, Mumbai Customs had to suffer a defeat at the hands of mighty Air India who scored two second-half goals to win the tie 2-0 after a neck-to-neck clash.

Mumbai Customs stepped their game up yesterday and dominated the match proceedings for the major part of the game. Praneel Mendon, Joshua Vessoakar, Deepak Irmali, and John Coutinho had a fine game for the Customs.

Customs’ hard work finally paid off in the 62nd minute when John Coutinho converted from the spot which proved to be the decisive goal of the match as Customs registered their first win of the season.

For the Photo Gallery please click here!

The post John Coutinho’s penalty gives Mumbai Customs crucial win appeared first on Football Counter.

Fahim Faki struck twice, whereas, Rishi Shinde, Ravi Sonune, and Scott D’Souza scored one each to complete a resounding victory for Central Bank of India (CBI).

Central Bank of India (CBI) were dominant right from the kick-off. They took first-half by storm as they notched up four fantastic goals inside 45 minutes. They attacked Kenkre FC from the center and as well as from flanks.

The first goal came in the 16th minute when Nadeem Khan set up Fahim Faki on goal who took his time and unleashed a sublime strike straight past the hapless goalkeeper. It was a well-taken goal by Fahim who was extremely brilliant for throughout the game.

Five minutes, Central Bank of India (CBI) were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Scott D’Souza took the responsibility and scored a stunning free-kick to give CBI a 2-0 lead. Apart from attacking relentlessly, CBI defended brilliantly to deny Kenkre FC numerous times.

In the 26th minute, Rishi Shinde made it 3-0 with a fantastic strike after a delicate pass from Fahim Faki. Kenkre FC seemed down and out as they had absolutely no clue to answer Central Bank of India’s brilliant attack.

Central Bank of India just didn’t stop scoring as they one more to go into the break with a 4-0 lead. Fahim Faki once again got on the scoresheet after scoring from the spot to register his second goal of the game.

CBI played defensively for the whole second-half to prevent conceding any goal. The fifth and final goal came in the 87th minute after Ravi Sonune scored a sublime goal to complete a memorable victory over Kenkre FC.

The post Central Bank of India (CBI) rout Kenkre FC 5-0 in Elite Division appeared first on Football Counter.

The post Independence Cup 2016: Central Bank of India overcomes a strong Millat FC side to qualify for next round appeared first on Football Counter.