TWO injury-time goals helped Big Ben nudge Qidwai Sporting Club out of Elite Division in the relegation final played at JSW ground in Kalmeshwar on Thursday. Big Ben recorded only two wins in out of 10 matches thus far, but this win would be their most memorable one as they stayed put in Elite Division for another season, despite poor performance. Qidwai, who finished ninth in the 10-team competition, guarded their defence well for over 90 minutes but fumbled in dying minutes. Big Ben found a thin gap in the defence line in the injury time to pump in two goals in two minutes to heave a sigh of relief.

 

After barren first 45 minutes and another goalless 48 minutes in the second session, Arjun Roka scored his first goal of the tournament which turned out to be the most important. A free kick from over the rectangle was all for Roka to bulge the net with his powerful right footer in the 90+4. The West Nagpur-based side then scored another a minute later when Abhinav Jichkar breached the fragile Qidwai defence to make it 2-0 and help his side stay in Elite Division. On Friday: Young Muslim Football Club vs Ansar Sporting Club at 2.30 pm at Kalmeshwar.