KSA XI (Red) squeezed through on a better goal average after the two teams tied on points from Group A.

Much stronger on paper, with names like Manzur Arfin, Douglas D’Sena, Julian D’Silva and Navin Kotian, KSA XI (Red) were led a merry dance by RBI, who controlled play in the midfield.

Rahul Shinde got the early goal for RBI, but they could not add to the scoreline, which could well have seen them edge out their rivals in goal difference.

In an earlier match, Century Rayon trounced Goans SA 3-0 to advance into the quarters from group B, while from Group A, Central Railway rode on hat-trick by Asif Jamal to trounce MTNL 3-0 and advance into the last eight stage from Group B. State Bank of India was the second team to make the grade from that group.

Asif Jamal showed he still retains quite a lot of speed and power in his legs that had made him one of Mumbai’s leading strikers during his playing days by scoring twice in the first half and once in the second against MTNL.

In the earlier match, Goan SA did well in the initial stages to hold Century Rayon, before a self goal by Diego Fernandes led to their rout. Philip Fernandes scored the second for Century and Jayanand made it 3-0 in the dying stages.

Big names Air India and Goa XI get into the action in the quarter-finals on Wednesday after a day’s break in proceedings.