NOV 6: Cooperage will probably witness a one-sided final as Murmagoa Port Trust (MPT) take on Western Railway (WR) in the ninth Mini Rovers Cup football final on Friday.

The Goans are firm favourites while their local opponents are smarting from severe setbacks in the local league, having finished way down in the local Super Division.

The Mini Rovers campaign has been a morale booster for the railwaymen who had suffered the ignominy of relegation. The side have shown vast improvement in the current competition and a blend of young and experienced players are a step away from qualifying for the main competition due to start on Saturday.

Western's game plan will work around their three strong medios -- Sunil Mishra, Sameer Shaikh and the experienced Jose Daya. But their forward line has failed to produce a striker who can assist veteran Kaushik Pal.

MPT have already exhibited fast and hard football in the quarter-finals and semifinals. For the Goan side, Vishant Pednekar, along with Salvador D'Cruz and Marshall Coutinho, can invade the railway defence comprising AJ Babu, Siraj Hussain, Inam ul Haq and Ritu Kothiya. Pednekar, so far, has been too quick for defenders to catch. But it will be interesting to see if coach RK Matkar plays Hussain in defence as he did in the semifinals against Bank Of India. Non-availability of some regular players like custodian Lesley and Manoj Rawat will prevent Matkar from fielding his best.

It will be difficult for MPT coach Marcus Pacheco to choose his strikers from the four Vishant Pednekar, Salvador D'Cruz, Marshall Coutinho and Mario Coehlo as all are in good nick. The forward line will be assisted by the omnipresent attacking medio Viatano Pinho. Pinho impressed with his accurate and controlled passes in the last two matches. The defence, marshalled by John D'Souza, is not a problem for MPT as it has been hardly tested by any side so far. With MPT pumping in eight goals in the last two matches, Western Railway's defence will have a job on their hands to keep MPT from scoring.

This will be the second consecutive final appearance for MPT in the tournament who, despite a bad season at home in the Goan League, have done well so far. Western surprisingly do not enjoy the advantage of playing on home grounds. The Goan team is going to be the crowd favourite. There are many Goan fans in Mumbai who will drop in at the Cooperage from all over the city.

Pacheco's boys, meanwhile, are confident of sending home the good news of their win. It will be difficult for Matkar's railwaymen to stop this Goan outfit. Western Railway, however, have nothing to loose and will take the field under little pressure.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.