MUMBAI, March 23: Central Railway beat Southern Railway 1-0 in the opening Group C match of All-India Railways football tournament at the Cooperage, here today.Central's victory avenged defeat at the hands of Southern recently when the Mumba-based side lost to Southern by the same margin at Bangalore during the Second Division National League qualifiers.Unmarked striker Massod Mohammad volleyed home the winner in the 9th minute. Hard-working Arif Ansari sent a long ball to Massod who made the all-important strike.Central custodian R Khanolkar brought off some fine saves to thwart several Southern offensives. Central dominated the first half as their medios Ansari, Shantakumar and Massod took control. Defenders Sadanand Kakodar and Amir Lotlikar assisted their forwards with some hard running down the flanks.Southern displayed better cohesion after the change of ends and it brooked more cohesion. Central, however, kept the attacks at bay. Central just missed swelling the lead when Arshad Ansari'sback header went just inches wide.Southern sustained their attacks from both flanks but Central defenders denied their strikers room.
