Pune: Sunil Chhetri fired in two goals after making a tentative start to give an embattled Mohun Bagan a 5-1 win against Mumbai FC in the Round IV match of the I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex ground.
Even though the difference between the two teams was like chalk and cheese, it was the indifferent form of Chhetri that needed an overhaul. He missed so many chances, but towards the middle of the match he found his touch, assisted by Hudson Lima’s relentless feeding, the India striker scored a brace—both goals coming in such a manner that should raise his confidence to a next level.
Beginning with skipper Syed Rahim Nabi’s opener in the 22nd minute, Bagan went on to dominate much of the proceedings leaving no chance for Mumbai FC to even try and play defensive. The attack became more persistent in the second half when Ashim Biswas was awarded a goal when it seemingly looked like a goal-line save effected by Faizal Rehman of Mumbai FC. There were sharp protests, but the Goan referee Francisco Fernandes stood his ground.
Earlier, Bagan seemingly left the painful memories of 0-5 thrashing by Dempo and played openly at the sun-drenched ground. Chhetri kept himself busy throughout, but his rustiness was still evident as the India player missed chances galore every time he received long balls from the right flank.
Hudson Lima was playmaker in every sense, feeding and nursing the ball relentlessly. Chhetri had messed up a chance in the 21st minute when he was in a good position to score with just two defenders on his sides when the ball landed at his feet. But Chhetri wasted precious time allowing the defenders to close in and foil the move.
In the very next minute, Lima sent a cross in the box and Syed Rahim Nabi headed in the first goal for Bagan. Lima was at it yet again when he found Chhetri unmarked, but the striker muffed the chance as he failed to control the ball in the 25th minute.
Soon after, another gaffe engulfed Chhetri, who failed to get into position soon enough. That allowed Mumbai FC defenders Gbeneme Friday and Abhishek Yadav to block his view forcing Chhetri to shoot wide in desperation.
But Chhetri recovered in time—first sending a free-kick into the top of the crosspiece and then heading a perfect corner from Lima in the 86th minute to make it 5-0. Before that, skipper Nabi set up a fine move from the right flank before he spotted an unmarked Chhetri in the box. Instead of setting himself up, Chhetri tapped the ball behind for an onrushing SK Jewel Raja, who effected a blinder of a grounder leaving Mumbai FC custodian Nidhin Lal sprawled four corners.
Mumbai FC got the consolation goal in the third minute of the added time when Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul was yellow carded for unlawful tackle. The subsequent spot kick by Ebi Sukore went in but that was no recourse to Mumbai FC’s woes as they slumped to third straight loss.
Dempo SC drub Pailan Arrows 3-0
Dempo Sports Club continued with their near-flawless campaign in the I-League as they defeated Pailan Arrows 3-0 for their fourth consecutive win at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco on Sunday.
The former champions struggled in the first session with the new venue but changed gears in the second session to take the match away from the young lads. Goals from substitute Koko Sakibo, Godwin Franco and Ranty Martins were enough for Dempo to lodge a comfortable win and take their points tally to 12 from four matches.
Dempo are not used to the Tilak Maidan surface and it showed when they struggled for space. Pailan Arrows gave a good account of themselves and appeared to play to a plan. But with Dempo in control the result never seemed to be in doubt.
In the first session, Dempo had a couple of chances to take the lead. Nigerian striker Ranty Martins was the first to have a look at the rival goal but the striker misdirected his snap shot twice in quick succession.
Anthony Pereira also had a chance to open the account but defender C Fanai came to his team’s rescue with a goal-line save after Pereira was nicely picked up by Joaquim Abranches.
The Arrows’ resistance fell in the second session just after the hour mark. Substitute Koko Sakibo broke the deadlock with an angular drive in the 67th minute.
Ten minutes later it was Ranty Martins’ turn to add his name to the score sheet after he was fed on the platter by Sakibo and then substitute Godwin Franco completed the rout with a brilliant freekick.
Churchill Brothers beat HAL
Garden city hosted an entertaining game of football, the title contenders Churchill Brothers finally scored goal from a set-piece move to gain 3 points against low-placed HAL.
Coming on a better football turf under a pleasant Bangalore evening sky, both teams played their heart out. In the first half, HAL defense thwarted few quick attacks from Churchill, as the half progressed, host presented a better football.
HAL played with a 4-5-1 combination, with Hamza as a lone striker and veteran RC Prakash supporting from little below. This combination worked well, as the midfield led by James Singh could control the game.
The goal came at the beginning of second half. Central defender Biju Kumar committed a foul on Henry Antchouet, HAL keeper P Pramod failed to read Steven Dias’ free kick, defense too failed to check Henry’s header, and finally looked like an easy goal from the later.
HAL came close to scoring at least in 2 occasions in first half. Hamza missed a header from James Singh corner in the 31st minute. The costliest one came at the end of first half when substitute Lillian Kenneth passed to James Singh, the latter’s through to the right wing was perfect, a running Vinoth Kumar received the ball, sidestepped Churchill defender and set for James. However, the Manipuri medio failed to put the ball in the goal.
Manuel Gomes, Churchill coach seemed to be a satisfied man, HAL’s game has impressed him today. He acknowledged that even a draw would have been a decent result.
Air India FC defeat Chirag Utd 2-1
Air India FC displayed their eye for goal in the away encounter at the University Stadium, Trivandrum in the fourth round of the I-League 2011-12. Strikes from Manandeep Singh and Sandesh Gadkari handed the Airmen a back-to-back win in the league at the expense of Chirag United Kerala FC.
The Mumbai based team were forced into the defensive from the beginning of the match by the home team, but they were let down by the lack of a prolific goal scorer to partner the Australian forward Michael Matricciani. It was Chirag who looked likely to score through the match until the referee pointed to the spot in advantage to Air India who went ahead.
Chirag created the first chance in the fifth minute to the game. Left back Jagdeep Singh came forward with the ball and ghosted past the Air India defence to take a pop on goal, but Pawan Kumar was there to collect the ball comfortably. Three minutes later, midfielder Asif K again tested the Air India custodian from distance receiving the ball from Captain Ajayan K in the midfield.
Chirag Kerala was in complete control of the proceedings and their best chance of the half came in 36th minute. Michael Matricciani, cheered by the home crowd, created a chance out of the blue as he had a go from thirty yards out getting to the ball let loose by the Air India defence. Custodian Pawan Kumar had to dive to his right and fist the ball away for a corner.
But it was Air India who were to break the deadlock as Charles Dzisah pulled down young Manandeep Singh inside the box in the additional time at the end of first half. And the referee brandished a yellow card and gifted a penalty to the away side. Manandeep who was on the scoresheet last week did the same this week by blasting the penalty down the centre leaving Arindam Ghosh on goal with no chance at all.
Chirag came out in the second period of play to restore parity, but they forgot to defend their goal in their effort to score. A clearance from the Air India defence set Sandesh Gadkari free on goal, leaving Chirag defenders Noushad K and Isaac Boakye standing and staring. Sandesh with the keeper advancing kept his cool and planted the ball in the back of the net to double their advantage.
Vineeth CK, who scored the winner for Chirag in their opening match against HAL, scored his second of the season to make the game 2-1.
In the dying minutes, Chirag looked likely to score the equalizer, but excellent defending by Ramandeep Singh, who was adjudged the man of the match, kept them away from scoring.
Air India now has six points from four matches and are at sixth position in the I-League table. Meanwhile, Chirag United Kerala are at the eleventh spot with one win from four matches.