Prabhakar Shanmugam’s 12th minute strike coupled with Sachin Narsappa and Aaron Machado’s goals in the 54th and 55th minutes helped RBI close off their league engagements on a positive note.

Chetan Jagnade and Nehal Desane did reduce arrears for Soccer XI with goals in the 56th and 69th minutes respectively but it was a bit too much for them in the end.

RBI’s main man Rolfred Coutinho didn’t play thanks to a suspension but they still did enough to close out the game within the hour mark. Shanmugam cleverly broke past the off side trap before slotting it past the on rushing goalkeeper while Narsappa’s goal was a textbook header off a corner.

Machado later slammed home an unstoppable shot to put the game beyond Soccer XI’s reach. It was game over within the hour mark and RBI was cruising home with the three points! But there was more drama as Jagdane and Desane sparked off a mini revival for Soccer XI.

If Jagdane’s effort was a classic smash and grab them Desane ran all of 30 yards from the left wing and slammed home to reduce the deficit. The score was 3-2 and Soccer XI suddenly raised visions of a comeback!

But all those efforts went to waste when Sachin Shrivastav was given his marching orders in the 85th minute which effectively ended any hope of salvaging at least a draw. A man down and with only five minutes to go…it was curtains for Soccer XI! They did have a few chances in the end but RBI held firm to close out the game at 3-2.

If it weren’t for that sending off Soccer XI still would’ve had a fair chance to salvage a point. It was a classic case of what may have been for Soccer XI in the end! RBI’s experience helped them clinch the three points despite missing their talisman skipper.

Soccer XI on the other hand looked jaded and out of ideas and never were really in the game prior to their second half goal burst.

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It was experience which ultimately helped RBI grab a win in the dying minutes.

RBI created numerous chances in the first half as Skorost held back and absorbed the pressure.

Gaurav More’s freekick gave Skorost the lead in the 33rd minute.

A shocker for RBI!

RBI bounced back immediately through a penalty from skipper Rolfred Coutinho in the 36th minute.

Macdon Pillai’s red card meant Skorost had to play catch up.

RBI threatened to score again and had Skorost on the backfoot.

Rohit Pillai’s effort ricocheted off the post and Coutinho had a penalty appeal turned down.

The skipper hit one over the bar in the dying minutes of the first half which finished at 1-1.

RBI put men behind every ball and effectively cut off space for Skorost in the second half.

The numerical disadvantage clearly hampered Skorost as they could only fire blanks.

Akash Kareparembil missed a gilt-edged chance as he shot straight at the keeper from inside the box.

Johnson Gaanaprakash almost scored off a scorcher for RBI!

He made amends as he hit home from Coutinho’s pinpoint cross in the 70th minute to make it 2-1. Skorost were in a dilemma!

Skorost roared back as Abhay Amin scored in the 71st minute to make it 2-2. Pawan Pattem used his physique to shield a defender off Amin in the build-up to the goal.

Gaanaprakash headed home off a corner in the 94th minute to break Skorost hearts!

Full marks to Skorost who didn’t give up hope!

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Kashif Jamal’s heroics in the second half helped Central Railway rescue a point.

Prathamesh Rokde had given RBI the lead in the 27th minute after he capitalized on a goalkeeping error.

The Railwaymen did come close to getting an equalizer as they troubled RBI with intelligent switching of the flanks.

Both teams played an entertaining brand of football to put up a good advertisement for the sport.

Hafiz Khan and Abu Jafar were a handful for RBI as the duo came close to scoring on numerous occasions.

RBI goalkeeper Bhushan Patil pulled off a brilliant save to deny Siddhart Kamat in a one on one attempt.

The first half finished 1-0 to RBI.

Rolfred Coutinho made it 2-0 in the 49th minute with a fine goal from outside the box.

A superb performance from the laddie!

RBI was more sprightly in the second half as they relied on counterattacks.

Jamal spoiled RBI’s party as he scored twice to make it 2-2.

The first was a composed effort from the spot in the 69th minute; the second was a smash and grab in the 84th minute.

Central Railway had thrown the kitchen sink…and it worked!

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