FC Kochin..1Mahindras..0FC Kochi defeated Mahindras, Mumbai 1-0 in a crucial group `B' match of the National Football League at the Municipal Stadium here today.With this win, FC Kochi has gained 17 points and qualified for the Super League.The all-important goal in the decisive match was scored by FC Kochi's striker Nitin Pardhan in the 32nd minute of the first-half off a cross from left-wing back Noha Razario.The forward duo of Rozario-Nitin also had an opportunity to strike in the 24th minute, but missed.Venkatesh nets winnerSalgaocar..1ITI, bangalore..0BANGALORE: An opportunistic strike by Venkatesh in the 39th minute, which went home off a rival defender's head, gave Salgaocar (Goa) a solitary goal win against Indian Telephone Industries in a Group B match of the National Football League at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Saturday.The win took the Goan club's tally to 13 points from nine matches and within striking distance ofa berth in the Super Six. ITI remain at the bottom of the pool with five points from nine outings.It needed a special effort from William Inganga to breach the ITI defence and set up the match winner. Put through by Odegah, Inganga darted down the left flank before finding Bruno Coutinho with a set-piece cross.Coutinho relayed the ball to an unmarked Venkatesh, whose rather feeble nudge moved goalwards. ITI defender Peter Siddiq, in his urgency to clear the ball, only added to its momentum which gave his goalkeeper Balaji little chance of effecting a save.
