Reds surge into top three
Mapusa (GOA): Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya’s slip up cost Churchill Brothers dear as they went down 0-1 to Shillong Lajong FC in their 14th round I-League match at Duler Stadium here on Teusday.
Shillong Lajong, who were seen defending their citadel for most part of the game, scored the winner in the 71st minute through Cornell Glen, who found a loose ball that slipped from keeper Arindam’s hands, and went into the net.
Although Churchill Brothers maintained possession throughout the match and created good scoring chances, their strikers failed to deliver.
This victory is Lajong’s second on the trot and third in four away matches this season.
SLFC had earlier beaten Dempo and Mumbai FC away.
It also lifts the North Eastern team to third place with 20 points from 13 matches, whereas Churchill Brothers remain at the bottom with seven points from 12 outings.
However, the Reds – who were actually playing in white on Tuesday – could lose places after Wednesday’s matches featuring Pune FC and Salgaocar, who are just one and two points, respectively, behind SLFC.
Churchill Brothers, the defending champions, made five changes from their last match.
Despite holding possession for a considerable time, the visiting team keeper Lultuammawia Ralte denied Balwant Singh from scoring.
Balwant, who gave good account upfront, was unlucky to see his shot hit the bar in the first half.
On the other hand, Shillong Lajong could not create much of the impact on the home team’s goal post as their two foreigners were nursing injuries.
Glen, who was one of the two, along with Uilliams Souza Silva, failed to produce any impact upfront.
The only time they came close to scoring a goal in the first half was when Boithang Haokip’s cross was well collected by keeper Arindam.
Churchill Brothers were on the prowl in the second half in search of the goal but the rival defence put up tight resistance.
Lenny Rodrigues, who led the attack from the middle, once again set up Binesh Balan with a cross but the latter’s shot was blocked by keeper Ralte in the 54th minute.
With Churchill Brothers pressing hard in search of a goal, it was the visitors who found the net in the 71st minute after surviving two close chances, when the ball fell from the hands of Arindam and Glen grabbed the opportunity by taking the ball away from him and slotting it into the net.
Lajong will stay in Goa to face second-placed side Sporting Clube de Goa on Saturday.
Dempo draw with United
Meanwhile, in Kolkata, Dempo goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani put up a valiant show as the five-time champions held a depleted United SC to a goalless draw.
In the absence of Sangram Mukherjee and Ishan Debanth, United SC were forced to field Abhijit Das under the bar, but a goal eluded the Goan heavyweights who extended their winless streak to five matches.
United SC took their points tally to 17, while Dempo remained on 11th in the 13-team table with 12 points.
It was also a setback for the home side as they looked the better of the two sides with some fine attacking moves by Ranty Martins and Eric Brown upfront but could not breach Kattimani’s towering presence.
Kattimani thwarted two fine efforts by Ranty and Brown early into the start of the match while United SC were unlucky in the 11th minute when a powerful strike from Brown hit the goalpost.
In the second half, the Dempo goalkeeper showed his brilliance once again saving two outstanding efforts by Dhanchandra Singh and Ranty. (PTI)
I-League 2013-14
Team P W L D GF GA Pts
Bengaluru FC 12 7 2 3 19 11 24
Sporting Clube de Goa 12 6 3 3 16 12 21
Shillong Lajong FC 13 5 3 5 17 16 20
Pune FC 11 5 2 4 12 8 19
United SC 13 4 3 6 14 15 18
Salgaocar 12 5 4 3 19 14 18
East Bengal 9 4 3 2 16 12 14
Mumbai FC 12 3 4 5 16 17 14
Mohun Bagan 12 3 4 5 10 10 14
Mohammedan Sporting 11 3 4 4 10 11 13
Dempo SC 13 2 4 7 11 15 13
Rangdajied United FC 12 1 6 5 10 21 8
Churchill Brothers 12 1 7 4 9 17 7