In the other match, Bank of India used their experience to outwit Khalsa Gymkhana 2-1.

Union Bank had come with the idea of cutting off Republicans supply line --Stanley Fernandes. The 19-year-old was not allowed any passes as Union Bank had Stanley Thomas shadowed him. However in the 18th minute full-back Romeo Albuquerque relayed the ball to Mukul Pandey on the left with the Union Bank defence expecting him to pass to the right. Pandey scored from a tight angle. Union Bank protested the goal but the umpire stuck to his decision.

The goal seemed to work well for Republicans as Union Bank woke up to the reality of being a goal down and opened up play. That gave Stanley more maneuverability. And the wiry player, forging anexcellent combination in the second half with Vijay Alphonso, set up the second goal.

Alphonso scooped the ball for Stanley to run forward and cut in. He was tackled by a defender but the ball rolled to Glen D'Souza. Glen gave a pass to Vishnu Sairam on the right and the latter scooped into the goal from a tight angle.

Nothing seemed to work for Union Bank. Their forward-line, barring the exception of the speedy Sameer Jadhav, did not have the wherewithal to break open the Republicans defence.

Republicans meet Tatas in the quarter-finals.

In the first match, Bank of India, used their experience, spread open the game and quelled the effervescence of Khalsa Gymkhana's playmaker, Aditya Menon to come out 2-1 winners.

Menon had scored a good goal to give Khalsa the lead in the second minute. He got the ball on the 25-yard line, beat two players and hit a rasping drive even when off-balanced.

Menon provided two more chances, to Sarfaraz Choudhary and Lawrence Noronha, but nothing came of it.

Bank ofIndia did not look like a very fit team, but they were mentally alert to the situation. They held possession for long periods, used the width of the field and frustrated the Khalsa players.

They equalised in the 18th minute through their second penalty corner. Khalsa Gymkhana defence ran to the right leaving Carlton Trinidad with the ball at the top of the area. Trinidad's hit beat the goalkeeper.

By the start of the second half, BoI had complete control of the match. And then they launched the attack with the in form Stephen Malaikal.

Malaika harassed the Khalsa defence no end and gave his team the winning goal when he was stick-checked by Jewel Ferrao. Trinidad converted the resultant penalty stroke.