Churchill expose Dutta8217;s tactics

Ghanian striker Philip Mensah equalised in the 54th minute, heading in Somatai Shaiza8217;s corner and added another after accepting Portuguese striker Jose D8217;Cruz8217;s pass in the 70th minute to make it 2-1. D8217;Cruz, booed at the start for insipid finishing, drew cheers when substituted at the fag end 8212; thanks to paving way for the third goal for Cyril Barretto to score with four minutes remaining.

All three goals that Tollygunge concededcame from the left and it reflected how sorely, indisposed defender Chandan Das was missed. Dutta, through emphatically defended his box8217; system-borrowed from tactics at the last World Cup praised his young team for a fine show on league debut.

The win takes Churchill Brothers to 13 points from eight matches and the Goans, guided by Scotsman Danny McLennan now head the group on goal record, followed by Mohun Bagan Calcutta and JCT Phagwara. Though McLennan was pleased with his team8217;s prospects, a 8220;patchy performance8221; left the coach with plenty to think about.

Dempo rally to hold JCT

Ludhiana: A lethargic custodian Virender Singh dashed the hopes of Jagatjit Cotton Textile, Phagwara, to avenge their earlier defeat at the hands of Dempo Sports Club, Goa. Although leading 1-0 in the first half, JCT drew 1-1 playing against Dempo in the Group A of a third Coca Cola National Football League match at Guru Nanak Stadium today.

JCT and holders Mohun Bagan are on top of the group with 13 pointseach from eight games while Dempo have nine points with two wins and three draws from eight matches.

JCT8217;s Hardip Gill drew first blood in 10th minute when he acted upon a pass from Surjit Singh in the right wing. Dempo8217;s first substitution in 57th minute when Anthony Afonso made way for Mathew Rodrignes 8212; paid dividend as Francis Silviera headed a soft pass from Mathew past Virender Singh in front of JCT goalpost for the equaliser 61st minute.

Dempo then suffered another blow in 66th minute when Stanley Colaco was sent off.

Mahindras hope to break jinx

MUMBAI: Mahindras will be hoping that they are seventh time lucky.

Having lost six times on the trot to Indian Bank, the Mumbai team take on their Chennai opponents in a rejuvenated form in the Coca Cola National Football League match at the cooperage tomorrow.

Mahindras had two encouraging result coming into this match 8212; a 1-1 draw with Salgaocar and a 6-0 thrashing of ITI, Bangalore.

8220;But I have put that in the back of my mind.Tomorrow is another game and Indian Bank are a good side,8221; said SS Hakim, the Mahindras coach.

In their first leg clash, Indian Bank had won 2-0 on January 17. This time round Sabir Pasha, scorer of one of the goals then, is slightly injured but Indian Bank will be without defenders KS Mahendran, Anandarajan and midfielder, Nigerian Santai. All the three are out with two yellow cards.

Indian Bank have seven points from seven matches with two victories and four defeat with the draw against ITI early this month. But in the previous match, they lost 0-3 to FC Kochin.

Indian Bank coach sounded confident on the eve of their clash with Mahindras: 8220;They may have scored six or 10 goals against ITI. It doesn8217;t bother me.8221;