Mahindras keep winning-run intact

JCT coach Sukhvinder Singh stated his team played far below their potential. He also criticised the poor condition of the ground and said his players, who fare well on the better surface at Ludhiana, had difficulty in controlling the ball on the uneven surface. “We played poorly in the initial stages and conceded a goal. But the match-winner in the 86th minute came following a good move,” he added.

Khalid Siddique of Mahindras paved the way for the first Mahindras goal. Hiscross from the left saw Minz fail to connect but, the latter found the net after striker Bassam Khatib passed to him when the defence was in shambles.

The Mahindras attack went to sleep after this early goal and JCT had their first try in the 10th minute. But unfortunately for them, Daljit Singh’s try came off the post after Mahindra goalkeeper Virender Singh was beaten.

The JCT equaliser came in the 26th minute. Hardeep Singh Saini’s half-hearted angular grounder from the right beat goalkeeper Virender Singh who stood rooted to the ground even as the ball trickled to the far corner of the goal.

Mahindras then dictated terms in the last 10 minutes of the first-half and could have regained the lead in the 42nd minute. Ramesh Rajak crossed to the top of the box from the right and Shamshi Raza headed the ball towards the left to unmarked M Najeeb. The last-named failed to get the better of JCT goalkeeper Baljit Singh in an one-to-one situation.

JCT began the second session on an aggressive note. Theytroubled the rival defence and had two good chances. But first, Hardip Gill’s shot on the turn from the top of the box went wide and next, Hardeep Singh Saini muffed an open chance in the 50th minute.

A minute after these two JCT misses, Mahindras tested the rival ‘keeper. But a long range try by Minz saw JCT goalkeeper Baljit go on his knees and collect the ball on the goalline.

Mahindras then went all out for goal but JCT could have had the last say in the 82nd minute. But striker Hardip Gill tried to go all by himself when he could have relayed the ball to an unmarked Jaswinder Singh on the right.

Gill was dispossessed and with it went a splendid JCT opportunity for goal.

Mahindras then came up with the match-winner in the 86th minute. Abhay Kumar beat two defenders on the right flank and then released a goalmouth centre which Khatib headed home in fine style.

SBT rout Churchill

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Underdogs State Bank of Travancore conquered their nerves, and a shaky Churchill Brothersdefence, to cause one of the biggest upsets in the ongoing NFL.

Young strikers Asif Shaheer (14th), Abdul Hakeem (50th) and Ignatius (69th), who punched holes through Churchill’s disorganised and porous defence with speed and purpose, struck in SBT’s 3-1 win, while Ukrainian Andrei Malchevsky reduced the margin.