NOVEMBER 01: Naigaum Police Headquarters and Rhino Sports Club, Parel, settled for a 1-1 draw but not before their MDFA Harwood Super football league match ran into trouble at the St Xavier's ground, Parel, today.All hell broke loose after Rhino defender Sanjay Munde struck Uday Gade with his fist and ran away when there were 12 minutes of play left. Gade, in a bid to retaliate, chased Munde all over the field. The Police supporters from the south side joined in chasing the Rhino player and a little later the entire crowd invaded the field and play was brought to a halt.Fortunately nobody was injured in the fracas and wiser counsel prevailed after the MDFA officials succeeded in pacifying the crowd and play resumed after a 15-minute break. Both, Munde and Gade, were given the marching orders by referee Augustine Mascarenhas.The pending decision regarding the Holy Family and Naiguam Police Headquarters tie, which ground to a halt when there were four minutes of play left, will be replayed. Holy Family were leading 3-1 when Naigaum Police appealed for bad light.Rhino began on a promising note but fulfilled little in the opening half. It was Police who took the lead in the 27th minute. Uady Gade and Santosh Chavan combined to a nicety before Gade broke free at the top of the box and beat Rhino goalkeeper Ajay Lonthe with a rising shot to the 'keeper's right.In the second-half, Rhino's Ajit Kokate and Satyawan Sawant missed sitters before the Parel outfit rallied to restore parity in the 54th minute through a spot-kick, which was awarded after a Police defender handled the ball in the box. Amol Khaire scored with a shot to the left of goalkeeper Murthy Dravid.Earlier in the First Division game, Khalsa Gymkhana walked out in protest nine minutes from the close after Bad Boys Club took the lead. They claimed that it was an off-side goal.
