The mere mention of the name Ambrose would still send a few shivers down the spines of most batsmen in international cricket, even though almost a decade has passed since the legendary Curtly’s retirement way back in 2000.

It was a different Ambrose, more than a foot shorter than the Antiguan giant, who took the field at the Cooperage mid-way through the second-half on Wednesday, but one who ended up as a match-winner nonetheless.

Mumbai FC were dominating proceedings against Western Railway in their Elite Division Playoff encounter, but a breakthrough somehow kept eluding them, and the first half ended up barren, with both teams locked at 0-0. But the tempo of the game seemed to change with Alex Ambrose’s arrival, as he opened the scoring for Mumbai FC, who ended up with a convincing 3-0 result at the end of the day.

Coach David Booth started off the second half by ringing in the changes. Kalia Kulothungan was first in, and was followed soon by Ambrose, who within two minutes of his substitution made the difference, as he latched onto a loose ball and comfortably netted it past the Western Railway custodian to break the deadlock.

The goal seemed to demoralize the railmen, as it completely opened the floodgates for the Mumbai FC strikers, who spent almost the rest of the half in their opposition corner.

The Western defence crumbled under the pressure, and often found themselves displaced by the marauding Mumbai FC offence.

It proved to be the substitutes’ day out, as Kulothungan soon found himself with just the goal-keeper to beat, and he simply patted the ball past him, and Western’s fate was almost sealed. Ghanian striker Felix Abogaye then completed the formality by heading in a perfect cross to make it three for Mumbai FC.

Manager Henry Menezes was elated after his team’s comprehensive display, and believed that it was the perfect build-up leading into the second phase of the I-league, which kicks off next week.