The team that lost 1-2 to Madras University in the final rued missed chances and felt pain at not being able to put it together against a team by no means superior. As they assembled at the University Pavilion on Friday, the team minus two players, could not explain the loss that cost them the title.

``Too many missed chances,'' coach Irenio Vaz echoed the sentiment of all. ``Madras was not even the zonal champions, Goa was. And we had beaten Goa in the league. It was a surprise to everyone that we lost that match.''

One of the culprits pleaded guilty. Mahindras' and Ruia student Abhishek Yadav -- the highest scorer for the team with 25 goals from 10 matches -- said he just could not find the mark, despite coming close on three occasions. ``It was just an off day,had to be in the final,'' he shook his head.

Pivot Lanuchuba Imchen pulled out due to injury minutes into the match, blunting the team's scoring edge. Skipper Agnello Fernandes (11 goals from 11 matches) scored the only goal for the team in the final, but it was not good enough to take the team to a title that was last denied to them in 1976. Mumbai hasn't qualified for 11 years.

The consolation came after the tournament ended when it was learnt that five from this side had been selected among probables in the All-India University team for the Asian Inter-University tournament. Yadav, Fernandes, Srikant Nayak, Jinto Jose and Hekmat Singh got the honour but still await the letter from AIU. Coach Vaz also recommended the names of Yadav, Nayak, Hekmat and Kanal Nagvekar for the state under-21 team to be selected later this month.

The lads braved inconvenient lodging facilities at the Stadium -- there was no water for two days -- and at times unplayable conditions -- when they had to play the West Zoneleague matches outside Fatorda on an uneven sand trap.

Vaz lauded the efforts of the mid-field comprising Nayak, Singh and Jose, a formation that succeeded to lend its weight to the team's fortunes. Podar's Nayak, who also plays for Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), netted six times while Hekmat (Chinai) scored five.

Results

West Zone knock-out: bt Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth 21-0, bt Vikram University 4-0, bt Gujarat University 2-1. League: bt Goa 3-0, lost to LNIP (Gwalior) 0-2, bt Devi Ahilya (Indore) 5-1.

All-India League: bt Kerala 2-0, bt MDU Rohtak 5-0, bt LN Mithila 6-1, (semi-finals) bt Calcutta University 4-0, (final) lost to Madras University 1-2.

Team

Goalkeepers: Conrad Correia (Chinai), Kiran Shetty (Mithibai); Defenders: Sunil Rajak (Rizvi), Russell D'Souza (St Xavier's), Clifford Pereira (Jhunjhunwala), Ashish Gonsalves (Khalsa), Kanal Nagvekar (Mithibai); Mid-fielders: Hekmat Singh (Chinai), PadamDansingh, Madhavan Iyengar (both Khalsa), Srikant Nayak (Podar), Anil Shetty (Somaiya), Jinto Jose (RKT), Anish Kanchan (NM Commerce), Chintamani Adarkar (Rizvi); Strikrs: Abhishek Yadav (Ruia), Agnello Fernandes (captain, Khalsa), Lanuchuba Imchen (Rizvi).

Coach: Irenio Vaz, Assistant coach: James D'Costa, Manager: Prof Ratnakar Kalpalliwar.