Churchill Bros expose chinks in A-I armour

As though apologising for a goal drought yesterday, the teams in action produced eight goals today after East Bengal, playing their first match in Group Y, beat Tata Football Academy (TFA) 2-1 to send the popular youngsters from Jamshedpur out of the tournament.

For a semi-final spot, Air-India must now hope that Churchill lose to Mohun Bagan by at least a 1-0 margin or that the Goans put it across the Calcutta league champions in similar fashion on Sunday.

A draw would take both sides through but Bagan could well go all out to win in order to avoid a semi-final clash against arch rivals East Bengal who could top Group Y with victory over JCT tomorrow.

Jeevan Moras scored a goal of rare quality and style as his scissor kick found the net on the half hour from Khengthang Paite’s cross.

But with defensive uncertainties creeping into the Mumbai side’s play, Churchill looked ever likely to score.

Surely enough, the hero became the villain and Moras, along with Jacinto D’Silva, shaped languidly in the 38th minute to allow Nigerean Chibuzor to head in the equaliser from Aqueel Ansari’s pass.

Churchill, barely recovering from a 11-hour flight from the IFA Shield in Calcutta before they opened their campaign yesterday against Sesa, were understandably jaded and it showed in an ineffective midfield and a struggling defence.

But the Goan side still went ahead five minutes after the break — Marcus Carvalho nudged home from Gurinder Pal Singh after Ratan Singh got a touch.

Godfrey Pereira made his presence felt. The libero crossed for Nitin Shetty who beat Emeka Okeke before slotting home Air-India’s equaliser in the 56th minute.

Manager Bimal Ghosh, unlike last night, preferred to attack as the match drifted towards the end and retained three strikers.

It almost brought the airmen the lead and probably the insurance for qualifying but Chandrakant Naik thwarted Paite, attempting to volley home Dennis George’s free kick from 30 yards.

Disaster struck Air-India with full-time and a semi-final place fast approaching. Ratan Singh’s effort met with slipshod handling by Sawant and Carvalho, winning a tussle with the bungling goalkeeper, found Chibuzor who gleefully did the rest.

Somatai `Soso’ Saiza shot East Bengal into an early lead within two minutes after Sarvanan crossed but TFA brought the house down with a spectacular equaliser in the 26th minute.

James Singh had Kalyan Chaubey and defender Sammy Omollo watching helplessly as he lobbed the ball into goal from 35 yards out after the ‘keeper had left his area to clear.

The IFA Shield champions scored the winning goal through Sarvanan whose power-packed shot found the net.