Western fail to boost goal tally

Centre-forward Mukhtiar Singh stole the limelight at the Mahindra Stadium. The wily Western striker scored three and set up another for winger Ingo Singh to score from close.

Western broke the back of the Young Sports’ resistance by striking thrice in a five-minute frenzied spell, commencing in the 18th minute. Mukhtiar gave them the lead and Ingo Singh made it 2-0 in 20th minute by capitalising on the rebound after Young Sports goalkeeper S Chaudhari had stopped a fierce penalty-corner shot by Western full-back Sunil Kumar.

Two minutes later, Western’s inside-right Chanderpal Singh weaved his way neatly down the middle and harnessed Mukhtiar at the top of the circle with a shallow diagonal pass. Mukhtiar’s powerful drive brooked no answer from goalkeeper Chaudhari.

Mukhtiar then paved the way for Ingo to make it 4-0. Mukhtiar trapped a long forward hit by defender Callistus D’Souza at the right, beat a defender and then unleashed a fierce goalmouth centre which Ingo despatched to the boards in a flash.

Young Sports defended well in the second-half and conceded a lone goal despite tremendous pressure from the railwaymen. Muktiar rounded-off the tally with a neat reverse-hit.

A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect for Babu, a BHA sweeper, who died in the early hours on Wednesday.