Najeeb stars in Mahindras win

A delighted Mahindras coach-cum-manager Harish Rao said, “I’am very happy. My boys had played a superb game today and defeating a strong team like FC Kochin at their home ground is something great.”

The match got off to an aggressive start with the vistors enjoying a clear edge over a surprisingly subdued Kochin outfit. The first 15 minutes was dominated by the Mahindra outfit and the rival defence had a harrowing time in containing Najeeb.

Mahindra’s could have taken an early lead in the 13th minute but for striker Manjit Singh, who headed a cross straight to goalkeeper Sunday Seah.

At the other end, Kochin were unlucky not to have taken the lead when striker Mohammed Shafeeq, with goalkeeper Virender Singh at his mercy shot over in a haste.

In a counter-attack, Mahindra’s got the vital lead in the 16th minute.

Hardworking Rizvi sent in a long through to Najeeb who outsmarted Kochin defender Firoz and dodged past an onrushing Seah to place the ball into the empty net much to the dismay of the capacity crowd.

ITI upset Churchill

BANGALORE: For around 85 minutes Churchill Brothers’ luck stood against Indian Telephone Industries, at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Sunday, reports Dev S Sukumar.

They were a goal up against the run of play; a few defensive errors had gone unpunished; and the ball had missed the goal by inches on more than one occasion.

But with the long whistle just minutes away, luck, and with it the match, turned upside down. A freak self-goal, and a splendid strike in injury time by ITI striker RC Prakash, swung the match ITI’s way in a 2-1 upset win to destroy Churchill’s far-fetched title hopes.

In the 67th, Naushad failed to trap a goal-kick, and Malchevky, recipient of that generous gesture, set up an unmarked Marcus Carvalho just beyond the charge of ITI goal-keeper Balaji. Carvalho made no mistake with his placement.

Time was running out for the home team when midfielder Gabriel Emchete hopefully volleyed the ball over his shoulder from the right touch-line. Churchill defender Osumanu Husseini happened to come in its way, and ITI were on level terms.

With only injury time left, an accurate long ball from the deep by Kenneth Raj dropped at RC Prakash’s feet at the edge of Churchill’s box. Prakash trapped the ball, sent the goal-keeper the wrong way, and dispatched a left-footer into the goal with disdain.