Two second half strikes by Srikant Veeramelu helped Bank of India overcome Intelenet 2-0, in Super Division of the MDFA League, at Cooperage ground, on Wednesday.
Two second half strikes by Srikant Veeramelu helped Bank of India overcome Intelenet 2-0, in Super Division of the MDFA League, at Cooperage ground, on Wednesday. The second tier game could have been a high-scoring affair but bad finishing by both sides restricted the number of goals in the game to two.
Bank of India was the dominant side right from the kick-off as they pinned Intelenet deep in their own half. However, they could not capitalise on all their pressure in the first half and the score remained 0-0 in the first 45 minutes.
Bank of India showed intent on making amends to their wastefulness in the first half and came out all guns blazing in the second. Veeramelu opened the score for them barely a minute from the restart. The midfielder used his speed to beat the opponent defenders to find himself with only the goalkeeper to beat. He finished his run with a shot in the right corner.
The goal was a wake-up call for Intelenet as they finally started penetrating into the Bank of India’s half. It was Bank of India’s turn to be pinned back and soak up all the pressure from their opponents. Their strategy after taking the lead was to deny their opponents from scoring by crowding in front of the goal and then launching the ball forward for their strikers to catch Intelenet on the counter.
The decision of sitting on their lead rather than add to their tally seemed a dangerous ploy for Bank of India as Intelenet strikers Craig D’Souza and Sheldon Benny missed sitters from crosses coming in from the flanks.
However, it eventually paid off in the 80th minute as a long ball from the defence left Veeramalu one-on-one with goalkeeper again. This time Rohit Prasad, Intelenet’s goalie got to the ball first but his clearance hit the approaching attackers body and the rebound fell beyond the ’keeper for an easy tap in for Veeramalu. The second goal took the wind out of Intelenet’s sails, as the final 10 minutes were played with a sluggish pace.
RESULTS: Super Div: Bank of India 2
(S Veermulu) beat Intelenet FC 0; Central Railway (Mumbai Div) 0 drew with Sea View SC 0; Goregaon SC 4 (A Dias 2, S Gogare, A Patil) beat State Bank of India 2 (H Rizvi 2)
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