AIFF Media Team
Kolkata, April 22: Contrasting fortunes stayed the highlight of the penultimate round of the I-League season 2012/13.
While Churchill Brothers’ 2-0 victory over Mohun Bagan meant that they now need just two points from as many matches to win the coveted crown for the second time since 2008/09 season, United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) became the first club to be relegated in this edition after they succumbed to their 13th reversal of the season to Sporting Clube de Goa, 0-3.
A first half brace from Henri Antchouet helped Subhash Bhowmick’s wards take a giant step towards clinching the title. The Goan heavyweights have won each of their four away games in Kolkata, a feat not many have achieved in the recent past.
Having the right kind of players, and their perfect replacements stayed the mainstay for Churchill’s success. If the first half of the Marathon League was all about the Lebanese duo of centre back Bilal Najjarin and striker Akram Moghrabi, the second essay saw the likes of Balal Arezou, the Afghanistan marksman, Senegalese defender Lamine Tamba slip fill in the void quite well.
The biggest trump card though was roping in India Captain Sunil Chhetri. On loan from Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon, Chhetri played a pivotal role in fulfilling Churchill’s aspirations by netting goals in important matches against Pune FC and Dempo.
Mathematically though both East Bengal and Pune FC -- on 43 points from 23 matches – still have a slim chance of upstaging Churchill -- 51 points from 24 matches -- and stranger things have happened in football.
If Churchill lose their remaining two matches against Mohun Bagan (home) and Air India (away), and either East Bengal or Pune win their quota of three, you never know!
And Pune FC it seems, are doing their bit pretty well. They handed struggling Air India a 6-0 drubbing with James Moga notching up a brace.
Elsewhere, Salgaocar extended their unbeaten streak to five games by edging past Pailan Arrows 2-1. It was the All India Football Federation’s developmental side who surged ahead in the 36th minute through Seminlen Doungel’s goal. But Josimar da Silva and Gabriel Obatola scored in each half to ensure Salgaocar logged full points.
In the Capital, Yusif Yakubu scored deep into second half stoppage time to keep ONGC at bay in their last home game where they lost only twice this season. Yusa Katsumi scored the opener in the 19th minute for the hosts.
Kolkata, April 22: Contrasting fortunes stayed the highlight of the penultimate round of the I-League season 2012/13.
While Churchill Brothers’ 2-0 victory over Mohun Bagan meant that they now need just two points from as many matches to win the coveted crown for the second time since 2008/09 season, United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) became the first club to be relegated in this edition after they succumbed to their 13th reversal of the season to Sporting Clube de Goa, 0-3.
A first half brace from Henri Antchouet helped Subhash Bhowmick’s wards take a giant step towards clinching the title. The Goan heavyweights have won each of their four away games in Kolkata, a feat not many have achieved in the recent past.
Having the right kind of players, and their perfect replacements stayed the mainstay for Churchill’s success. If the first half of the Marathon League was all about the Lebanese duo of centre back Bilal Najjarin and striker Akram Moghrabi, the second essay saw the likes of Balal Arezou, the Afghanistan marksman, Senegalese defender Lamine Tamba slip fill in the void quite well.
The biggest trump card though was roping in India Captain Sunil Chhetri. On loan from Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon, Chhetri played a pivotal role in fulfilling Churchill’s aspirations by netting goals in important matches against Pune FC and Dempo.
Mathematically though both East Bengal and Pune FC -- on 43 points from 23 matches – still have a slim chance of upstaging Churchill -- 51 points from 24 matches -- and stranger things have happened in football.
If Churchill lose their remaining two matches against Mohun Bagan (home) and Air India (away), and either East Bengal or Pune win their quota of three, you never know!
And Pune FC it seems, are doing their bit pretty well. They handed struggling Air India a 6-0 drubbing with James Moga notching up a brace.
Elsewhere, Salgaocar extended their unbeaten streak to five games by edging past Pailan Arrows 2-1. It was the All India Football Federation’s developmental side who surged ahead in the 36th minute through Seminlen Doungel’s goal. But Josimar da Silva and Gabriel Obatola scored in each half to ensure Salgaocar logged full points.
In the Capital, Yusif Yakubu scored deep into second half stoppage time to keep ONGC at bay in their last home game where they lost only twice this season. Yusa Katsumi scored the opener in the 19th minute for the hosts.
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