MUMBAI, November 4: Substitute Marshall Coutinho's brace helped Murmagao Port Trust (MPT) enter the final of the ninth Mini Rovers Cup football tournament after defeating Rashtriya Chemical and Fertilizers (RCF) 4-0 in the first semifinal at the Cooperage today.

Two goals by substitute Marshall Coutinho, replacing skipper and hardworking medio Salvador D'Cruz and one each by Vishant Pednekar and Viatano Pinho completed a resounding win for MPT, who had won the tournament in 1995. The Goans missed last years' tournament as no teams from outside the state were invited.

MPT took the lead in the 39th minute through striker Pednekar after medio Pinho had done the spadework. Pednekar received a through pass from Pinho, who was instrumental in all four goals scored by MPT. Pednekar found the net with a right-footer that beat RCF custodian Suhas Patil.

MPT led by that goal at the breather. The same combination made another move five minutes into the second half but this time Pinho was the scorer. Pinho out-jumped a defender to head home a lob from Pednekar.

Coutinho pounced on to a opportunity in a goal mouth melee to increase the lead in the 70th minute. The move was initiated by the omnipresent Pinho who put a forward pass to Pednekar. From the top of the box, Pednekar split the defence with a pass to Coutinho, whose hard push deflected off an RCF defender into goal.

Pinho essayed the fourth goal as well. He received a long ball from John D'Souza in the 83th minute and Pinho crossed a low floater into the striking area. Coutinho lunged on to it and placed the ball in the right corner of the goal.

The Goan side dominated the match, thanks to the midfield who supplied their wingers and strikers who in turn switched positions frequently. The game plan troubled the RCF defence repeatedly. MPT will meet the winners of the other semifinal between Bank of India and Western Railway to be held tomorrow.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.