Though their rivals appeared the more formidable of the teams on paper, it was RCF who had the last laugh.

Playing a strongly defensive game with only three players up, RCF did well to blank out the Republican attacks which came in plenty. In fact for the first-half most of the action took place at the RCF post. And the erring Republican forwards just aided their cause.

The lone goal came minutes into the second-half after the umpire flashed a pair of yellow cards to Rebulican's Errol D'Silva and RCF's N A Thimaaiyya. This seemed to unsettle the Republican defence which was rarely troubled till that point.

A pass by S Megharaj from a tight angle on the right saw Solomon trap the ball and slam into the goal.

Republicans came close to scoring on numerous occassions. Forward Kamlesh almostnetted the equaliser when Suresh Pereira fed him right in front of the post. But it just did not seem their day. The ball simply rebounded off the left post even as the Republicans watched in dismay.

Earlier, Rajput XI scored a 3-0 win over Reserve Bank of India in the Punjab National Bank sponsored First Division league match.

Rajput rallied in the second-half with Rocky Fernandes managing a brace. The first two goals came off penalty corners, Pio Gomes firing the second. Rocky completed the margin through a field goal in the 53rd minute.

Sunday's Fixtures: At BHA Mahindra Stadium 8.30 a.m. Rajput XI vs Greater Bombay Police (Div I); 4.30 p.m. Air-India vs Mumbai Port Trust; 4.15 p.m. Western Railway vs RCF -- BHA Championships

Bandra Packers enter semis

Bandra Packers beat Chembur English 5-4 via the tie-breaker, after the two were levelled 1-1 at the end of regulation time, in the quarter-finals of the Air-India Trophy football tournament conducted by MDFA at the St Xavier's ground, Parel,today.

Altaf M Ansari scored a penalty, which was awarded after a Chembur defender handled the ball early in the 14th minute. English equalised in the 27th minute. Nazareth Noronha beat substitute 'keeper Roy Dias with a header. In the tie-breaker, Clarie Remedious, Altaf M Ansari, Blaise Vessaokar and Pascoal Koli netted for the winners. Santosh Patil, Napolean Pereira and Gaston D'Costa scored for the losers.

Earlier, Don Bosco Youth Centre B beat IIT Powai 4-1 in the Guru Nanak Trophy quarter-finals. Sachin Sakpal (2) and Jaydeep Sarkar (2) scored for DBYC. Adwit Singh reduced the margin.