ANSAR Sporting Club got the better of Big Ben Football Club 4-2 in the JSW-NDFA Elite Division League Championship under way at Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar Football Stadium in Suyog Nagar, north Nagpur. First half of the match was completely dominated by Ansar Sporting Club who scored three goals and conceded none for a healthy 3-0 lead at the break. Post change of ends, Big Ben reduced the margin to 2-3 scoring two quick goals in a space of just three minutes right at the resumption of the match. Md Owais Ashraf made it 1-0 for Ansar in seventh minute of play. On a brilliant pass provided to him by Sohrab Akhtar, Ashraf made no mistake in beating the rival goalkeeper.

 

Twenty minutes later, Sohrab hit a stunning shot from about 30 yards that reduced the bartender to a spectator and the scoresheet read 2-0. In dying minutes of the first half (45th), Sohrab was fed a pass from the right wing by Mushtajab inside the box and the striker made no mistake as Ansar were three up. Big Ben returned with a changed strategy in the second half. Their aggressive start gave them two opportunities and both were grabbed with open arms. Abhinav Jichkar bettered Sohrab’s effort and his powerful hit from 40 yards sailed over head of goalkeeper right into the net in the 48th minute. In the 51st minute, Rahul Virmani further reduced the margin scoring second goal of the team. Rahul got a pass from Tilak and he had only goalkeeper to beat.

 

He dodged the keeper to make it 2-3. In the 68th minute of play, Md Rizwan scored fourth goal for Ansar. He got a pass from Sharique and just tapped it in. Big Ben tried their best but could not score in the remaining time. Big Ben’s Abhinav Jichkar (7th) and Mohit Waghmare (60th min) while Ansar’s Sharique Nadeem (87th) were flashed with yellow cards by the referee. On Tuesday: MOIL XI vs Young Muslim FC.