Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I-League Preview: Round Five

The fifth round of the I-League kicks-off and Goal.com previews all the action for Indian football lovers.

Round four saw most of the big guns return to winning ways – Mahindra United, East Bengal and Churchill Brothers. Expect the I-League table to change in the coming few weeks as several sides make their stride to the top. Champions Dempo will make a return to I-League after being focussed on the AFC Cup off late.

Round five sees some of big games and the results of which shall be important for certain coaches.

Chirag United – JCT (23rd October ’08, Kolkata)

The game was originally supposed to be a home game for JCT but was shifted to Kolkata by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as part of the revised schedule due to Dempo’s participation in the AFC Cup.

Chirag United have surprised themselves with the start they have made. Four points from four games isn’t bad for a promoted side. A strong cohesive unit under Coach Subrata Bhattacharya and their best game has been the 3-1 mauling of Mahindra United at Cooperage.

Most of their players are injured or suspended for the game. More than half of their side would be changed from the one that played against Air India in the last outing. The youngsters filling in would have a tough time.

JCT’s form has been swaying. They won against Dempo and played badly in the goalless draw against Vasco. They beat Mohammedan at home but lost to Mahindra United by a single goal.

They have a number of injury worries and the absence of the third foreigner is also a cause of concern.

Expect Chirag United to be ultra defensive and if JCT do have hopes to snap the three points they would have to attack from the word go.

Mohammedan Sporting – Mahindra United (24th October ’08, Kolkata)

The Kolkata side are in the 11th position with two points after four games. Given their aim to save their season, they need to up their form only a bit and be in the top 10 sides out of 12!

Mohammedan have had off the field troubles with their goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar giving away his captaincy for not being selected in the big game against Mohun Bagan.

The fitness of striker Theodore Sunday has been a cause of worry for Coach Shabbir Ali and the experienced is leaving no stone unturned to get him to his peak form. Some glimpses were seen in the last game when he ran half the field to set up Gautam Thakur’s goal.

They would need to make the most of their home games and collect as many points as possible.

Over to Mahindra and the side registered their first win in the league in the last round against JCT. Mahindra United would hope that their league form would turnaround and they can make up for the early loss of points.

The Durand Cup champions given their pre-league form would have been fancied to win this game but it certainly won’t be easy for them against Mohammedan.

The last time these two sides met was at Cooperage in the season before last where Mahindra United thrashed Mohammedan by 9-0 in their last match of the league.

A tough game but Mahindra United do have quality at their disposal and should use the weak Mohammedan backline to their advantage.

Sporting Clube De Goa – Mumbai FC (24th October ’08, Goa)

Like JCT, this was to be the home game for Mumbai FC but was changed into an away encounter. Who would have thought that this game would be one of the biggest games of the round as they are the top two sides in the league?

Sporting Clube De Goa are coming off a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of fellow Goan side Churchill Brothers. They had their chances in the game but failed to capitalize on them.

The gap at the top of the table has been closed in the last round with Air India and Churchill Brothers just breathing down the neck of Sporting. Consistency is the key to win a league and stay on top of the table and this is certainly what the Flaming Orange would or rather should have realized by now.

Mumbai FC had a long lay off as their game in the last round against Dempo was cancelled due to the latter’s AFC Cup participation. They have played friendlies in the given space to keep their squad on their toes.

David Booth’s men are the only team in the league to have won all their games and would look to continue that form. ‘Slow and steady wins the race’ is the moral of the famous Aesop’s fable but it’s also the mantra of Mumbai FC.

They have been quietly making the strides and always played the underdog card. If one wants to see a disciplined performance, Mumbai FC are the side to watch. They may not b the most attractive side with the most entertaining football, but they play effective one enough to get them the results.

Mohun Bagan – East Bengal (25th October ’08, Kolkata)

The biggest derby in Indian football is here as Mohun Bagan take on East Bengal in round five of the I-League. It’s certainly one of the biggest games of the round.

The importance of the game is for the coaches, who have to bear the brunt if their side isn’t performing well whether they like it or not.

Both the teams aren’t in the best of form and have a lot in common – injuries to key players, pressure on the coaches, an ever demanding fans and officials, etc. Any team which loses this game would face the ire of the fans and none of the two would want to be in that situation.

Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa highlighted the positives of the last game against Mohammedan where they drew 1-1 but one has to mention that poor second half display by the Green and Maroons.

East Bengal coach Stanley Rosario would feel relatively comfortable after registering his second win in the last outing against Vasco. Remember they have beaten Vasco and not Churchill Brothers or Dempo!

It’s difficult to pick any winner in this game as often you see even the team going through a bad phase raising its level for the derby.

Vasco SC – Churchill Brothers SC (25th October, Goa)

It’s high time for Vasco would get some points in their kitty and not be left behind. They have a single point from four games and the going wouldn’t get easier in the coming rounds.

Uzbekistan striker Ravshan Teshabaev has shown his class but only in glimpses. The Goan side would need something special from somewhere in order to halt Churchill Brothers.

Churchill Brothers threw aside Sporting Club De Goa’s challenge in their last game and cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory after the disappointing 0-0 away draw to Chirag United.

The team seems to have got back their confidence after the troubled pre-season. Skipper Odafa Okolie’s deadly form is good news for Churchill Brothers while their team seems to have returned to the free flowing brand of football.

It will be easy points for Churchill Brothers as they would walk past Vasco.

Dempo SC – Air India (26th October ’08, Goa)

After a disappointing end to their AFC Cup campaign, Dempo would focus back on their league campaign which they have been dominating since the last two seasons.

Dempo shall aim for winning the league for the third consecutive time and for that they need to boost their campaign by beating a side which is on the upper half of the table – Air India.

What would count against Dempo is mental tiredness after a gruelling campaign and the thrashing at the hands of Safa. The assistant coach publicly criticized the defenders for their failure and don’t expect the confidence of their back four to get better by those ‘kind’ words.

Air India have been flying higher and would certainly don’t want to come down. They are undefeated in the league and have surprised everyone with their form.

Under Bimal Ghosh, they have played as a strong unit which has worked for them. Whether they can get a good result against Dempo would be tested.

Source:Goal.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

I-League: JCT Coach Launches A Veiled Attack On The Referee

JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh is looking forward to the clash against Chirag United in the fifth round of the I-League after losing to Mahindra United in their last game at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Punjab.

“We are looking to bounce back against Chirag United and move up in the table,” said the veteran coach.

But the former Indian national team coach wasn’t pleased with the 0-1 loss to Mahindra United, though he was all praise for his boys.

“That match (against Mahindra) was very close and I can say that we dominated the game. They got two to three chances and they scored one.

“We had several chances but failed to convert.”

Sukhwinder launched a veiled attack on the referee officiating the game a he wasn’t pleased with several decisions which didn’t go their way.

“All I can say is that someone didn’t want us to win. I can’t blame my boys as they played their hearts out. We didn’t deserve to lose if not win.”

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Marcos Signs For MB

The Marcos Pereira transfer saga has come to an end as Mohun Bagan signed him yesterday to fill their vacant third foreigner slot. This was after JCT decided to release the Brazilian.

Goal.com first reported that Mohun Bagan are likely to land the playmaker almost a month back and despite all the issues which delayed the move, Marcos is with the Kolkata club.

Trouble began when Mohun Bagan began courting Marcos after the end of the Kolkata League though the club officials claimed otherwise. The central midfielder mentioned of having received an offer from the Kolkata giants to JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh. Thereafter Marcos left for Kolkata from the team hotel without informing JCT officials.

“Mohun Bagan wrote to AIFF (All India Football Federation) that we are delaying Marcos’ move. We answered the letter. The Players Status Committee decided that Marcos wasn’t eligible to play for Mohun Bagan and could only move in the second transfer window in December,” said JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh.

The former Indian national team coach states that the reason JCT decided to release Marcos was that it didn’t want to hold a player against his wishes.

“Why should we keep him if he didn’t want to stay? We just had to show the Federation (AIFF) that we were open in our dealings.”

Sukhwinder mentioned that his club received some amount from Mohun Bagan to release Marcos Pereira.

“Marcos came on our money and there were other expenses which had to be reimbursed. A genuine amount of money was given to us.”

Source:Goal.com

Sunday, October 19, 2008

I-League: Churchill Trounce Sporting Club De Goa

Churchill Brothers brought an end to the winning streak of Sporting Clube De Goa as they trounced the fellow Goan side 3-0 in a fourth round I-League encounter at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.

It was skipper Odafa Okolie’s brace and Naoba Singh’s third that helped last year’s runners-up snap up the three points.

The win takes Churchill Brothers to fourth spot with a game in hand while Sporting are on top with Mumbai FC. Churchill Brothers got into the groove from the beginning and threatened the Sporting backline every time they went forward.

It was just a matter of time when the first goal was scored as Odafa, on receiving a ball from Robert, struck a firm right footed shot along the ground which beat the Sporting goalkeeper Felix D’Souza.

The Flaming Orange looked rusty and lacked the composure to play against Churchill Brothers. They gave away the possession whenever they had the ball and otherwise were seen running behind it.

The best chance they could create fell to Junior Elijah but his shot was blocked by Churchill custodian Arindam Bhattacharya.

Nine minutes after the break, Odafa Okolie scored another stunner from outside the box that left goalkeeper Felix D’Souza and his Sporting colleagues stunned.

Soon came the third goal when Naoba Singh struck off an Odafa pass and completed the rout. Sporting couldn’t do much and were short of ideas against an ever improving Churchill Brothers side.

Final Score: 3-0

Goalscorer Churchill: Odafa Okolie (14th and 54th ) and Naoba Singh (68th)

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Bagan, Mohammedan Share The Spoils

It’s no joy for either of the two Kolkata teams as Mohammedan Sporting and Mohun Bagan shared the spoils at the Salt Lake Stadium in a fourth round I-League encounter.

Goals from Gautam Thakur and Jose Ramirez Barreto cancelled each other out. Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting continue to be at the bottom of the table with this result.

Mohun Bagan were shocked early in the third minute as Gautam Thakur gave his side the lead. Theodore Sunday’s brilliant run was unchecked and he laid the ball for Thakur to slot it in the net.

Thereafter, the play was restricted in the midfield and as both teams tried to get hold of the possession. Jose Ramirez Barreto’s header went wide from a Mohanraj throw-in. Mohammedan’s defence was falling apart with each Bagan move.

The equalizer came in the 24th minute as Jose Barreto controlled and sent his shot into the opposition net in no time after receiving a Malswamtulunga pass from the right.

On loan defender Anit Ghosh was having a torrid time in the first half as he handled the ball and the resultant free-kick forced a save from goalkeeper Tharanghachan. Barreto laid the ball for Rakesh Masih whose stinging left footer tested the Mohammedan custodian.

Mohammedan were close to scoring an own goal from a Bagan corner as Anit Ghosh headed the ball towards his goal only for Sovan’s timely clearance. Theodore Sunday too had a chance to score from close range but headed over the bar.

Mohun Bagan came out a couple of minutes late onto the field after Mohammedan and the match officials were ready for kick-off.

Ten minutes into the second session and the Green and Maroons were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. James’ cross into the box saw the goalkeeper come off his line and the final shot from Peter Odafe was ruled offside.

Six minutes later, Bagan were lucky to survive the rest of the game with all their men as Peter Odafe escaped his second booking of the evening. The Nigerian intentionally handled the ball inside Mohammedan box after already being on a yellow card.

Theodore Sunday’s shot from a Gurpreet Singh cross lacked power though it forced a save from goalkeeper Shilton Paul. Adebayo’s glancing header missed the second post in the 65th minute.

Gautam Thakur could have scored the second and finished off the game but he headed the ball over the bar from six yards out. The 71st minute saw skipper Mike Okoro’s being glanced for a corner by goalkeeper Shilton Paul.

Mohammedan looked lively especially with their Ghanaian striker looking to run past Bagan defenders.

The match ended with the same scoreline which doesn’t help any of the team to overcome their string of poor results.

Final Score: 1-1

Goalscorer Mohammedan: Gautam Thakur (3rd min)

Goalscorer Bagan: Jose Barreto (24th min)

Source:Goal.com

I-League: First Win For Mahindra United

Mahindra United finally got their act together as they won 1-0 against JCT in a fourth round I-League clash at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana.

Substitute Sukhwinder Singh’s strike was the difference between the two sides. The win has taken Mahindra United to the ninth position while JCT are now fourth on the table.

The Punjab side started without three of their first team regulars – Eduardo Da Silva, Baldeep Singh Senior and Junior.

It was the home side which started better and dominated the proceedings. Goalkeeper Subashish Roy Chowdhary impressed by pulling off some good saves.

JCT striker Amandeep Singh, in particular, tested the Red Devils on a few occasions and was very lively on the pitch.

Mahindra United had an excellent opportunity to go into the lead by Chidi Edeh missed an open chance off a Douhou pass.

At the start of the second half, Coach Derrick Pereira introduced local boy Sukhwinder Singh for Izumi Arata and it instantly fetched him results.

Mahindra United went into the lead in the 52nd minute as Sukhwinder Singh’s right footer went past goalkeeper Karanjit Singh into the net. This was after the corner kick taken by Mahindra’s rebound of a JCT defender’s leg for Sukhwinder.

The Mumbai club played better in the second session and dominated the game. Another substitute Sushil Kumar hit the post off an Ajayan cross.

The match ended with the same scoreline and Mahindra United recorded their first points in this edition’s I-League.

Final Score: 1-0

Goalscorer Mahindra: Sukhwinder Singh (52nd)

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Air India Continue To Fly Higher

Air India continued their fine form in the second edition of the I-League as they beat Chirag United 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal by Surojit Roy at the Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai.

The match began with neither team having the better exchanges as they took time to settle down. It took 10 minutes for the first good move of the match which came of a free kick. Napoleon Singh passed the ball to Soccor Velho whose cross inside the box saw the Chirag defence clear the danger in a frenzied fashion.

At the other end, Hardeep Singh Saini released Gauranga Dutta on the right and the latter laid it for Muritala Ali who sent the ball into the orbit. Three minutes later, Snehashish Chakraborty’s cross saw Muritala Ali head wide under pressure from Air India left back Ravinder Singh.

Chirag United had good amount of possession in the first half hour and another opportunity which went kissing. Gauranga Dutta’s cross was missed by striker Muritala Ali and the ball fell for Soumik Chakraborty who couldn’t control the ball and hence Syed Farid cleared the danger in time.

Thereafter, a strange incident occurred as Chirag goalkeeper Robikanta Singh and defender Louis Ebami clashed against each other in their bid to clear the floated ball. Air India striker Emmanuel Ovieghara was on the prowl and tapped in the ball into an empty net. Referee A. Rowan disallowed the goal much to the surprise of the Air India players.

Chirag United had to substitute goalkeeper Robikanta for Arindam Ghosh.

Chirag United had a brilliant chance in the injury time of the first half when Soumik Chakraborty laid the ball for Hardeep Saini whose left footed shot was saved by Air India custodian Arup Debnath.

While Air India looked to soak the Chirag United attacks, the latter preferred to build-up good moves.

The second half saw Air India introduce Samson Singh in place of Kailash Patil. The home side showed more vigour while going forward and began to keep possession.

The 68th minute saw Michael Tayo’s ball to Ovieghara and the Nigerian striker looked to hit the top corner of the far post but missed it by not much.

Three minutes later, an Uttam Singh throw-in gave Air India the lead with Surojit Roy connecting to find the back of the net. Uttam threw and goalkeeper Arindam Ghosh misjudged the flight of the ball and came off his line to collect but he missed and all Surojit had to do was to head the ball in.

Snehashish did come close as he hit the top bar. The match ended with Chirag United ruing the missed opportunities while Air India pleased to add another three points in their kitty.

Final Score: 1-0

Goalscorer Air India: Surojit Roy (71st minute)

Source:Goal.com

I-League: East Bengal Brush Aside Vasco 2-0

Kolkata giants East Bengal convincingly defeated Goan side Vasco Sports Club 2-0 in Kolkata in their I-League clash on Saturday. Two goals from their star striker Yusif Yakubu were enough to present East Bengal with a deserved victory.

East Bengal dominated the match throughout the 90 minutes and took the lead as early as the 9th minute when a defensive mistake gave the ball away and East Bengal striker Yusif Yakubu gleefully pouned to slot home past a shocked Laxmikant Kattinami. That set the tone for the match and spurred East Bengal to carry on lauching numerous attacks on the Vasco citadel.

Defender Suley Musah had a good chance from the right side of the Vasco penalty area in the 19th minute. One minute later it was the turn of defensive midfielder Mehrajuddin Wadoo who tried his luck with a long ranger.

East Bengal continued piling up the pressure and had most of the possession. They played somewhat silky football and adopted a free-flowing style in the midfield. Star Indian player Sunil Chhetri exhibited his class when he tried an audacious overhead kick in the 25th minute.

For Vasco, striker Ravashan was trying to weave some magic along Vasco's right. Vincent Pires too delivered a few decent crosses into the East Bengal penalty area. East Bengal striker Yakubu was then thought to have been brought down by goalkeeper Kattinami in the Vasco penalty area in the 32nd minute but the referee rightly decided that it was a dive and rewarded Yakubu with a yellow card.Mehtab Hossian then tried his luck from distance in the 38th minute.

The second half started in a somewhat subdued fashion as Vasco didn't quite manage to roar back and East Bengal too didn't seem to maintain the momentum in the initial stages of the second 45 minutes.

But it was the home side that had the first real chance of the second half. Chhetri hit the near post in the 55th minute from near the edge of the six yard box. East Bengal continued having more possession of the ball but didn't manage to come real close.

For Vasco, striker Ravashan did bundle the ball into the back of the net in the 67th minte but it was rightly ruled out. East Bengal immediately pressed on with Wadoo trying his luck again with a long ranger in the 70th minute.

A minute later Sunil Chhetri then had a great chance after Syed Nabi delivered a sweet cross but the Indian international striker was adjudged to be offside.

East bengal secured all three points in the 90th minute when striker Yakubu once again took advantage of a defensive lapse to tap in his and his side's second goal that saw Eaast Benagl win the match 2-0.

Source:Goal.com

Saturday, October 18, 2008

I-League: Pradeep Confident Of Turn Around

Mahindra United find themselves at the bottom of the table but star midfielder N.P.Pradeep is confident that soon his team can overturn their bad run.

The Red Devils have lost all of their three games in the league and they face high flying JCT later today.

“We have to come to Punjab to win,” declared Pradeep.

The Indian international feels that the 3-1 victory over JCT last season in Mumbai would give his side the confidence to snap up the three points.

“In that game, we came from a goal down to win 3-1. We must take inspiration from that game.”

The Kerala star believes that the performance against Mumbai FC was their best and they were unlucky not to win.

“We played very well. It was the best performance of the three games. We need one win and then we can get our season back on track,” concluded the Nehru Cup hero.

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Bimal Not Concerned Of Chirag's Nigerian Defence

Air India coach Bimal Ghosh isn’t concerned about the two Nigerian defenders – Louis Ebami and Daniel Ayeni at the heart of Chirag United defence and added that he was the first coach in the I-League to employ to foreign defenders.

Chirag United central defenders – Louis and Daniel have had an impact ever since they took field for the club. They nullified fellow Nigerian’s Chidi Edeh (Mahindra United) and Odafa Okolie (Churchill Brothers) in the last two games.

Speaking to Goal.com, Bimal said, “I was the first coach to employ to foreign defenders in top division football when I had Suleh Musa and Martins. I know how it works and doesn’t work.”

Bimal Ghosh praised Chirag United for their performance against Mahindra United two weeks ago whom they beat 3-1 at the Cooperage Stadium.

“They (Chirag) played very well in that (Mahindra) game. We can’t take them lightly. We shall how they play and then decide the way forward,” said the tactician.

Air India coach further mentioned that he found the Cooperage in good condition as opposed to the popular view of the ground being unfit.

“Cooperage is a good stadium and I found nothing wrong with it.”

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Elvis Dismisses EB Injury Concerns

Vasco SC coach Elvis Goes breathed confidence ahead of their impending I-League clash against Kolkata giants East Bengal at Salt Lake Stadium this evening.

“We are prepared for everything. I’m prepared for the worst as well,” said the coach.

The former Dempo and Churchill player is excited about the game and added that he felt great to be back in the ‘Mecca of Indian football’.

“The match is going to be exciting for sure. I had come here with Dempo to play some games and it feels good to be back.”

East Bengal have a number of injury worries and facing a make-shift Red and Gold side would be advantageous for the newly promoted Vasco. But Elvis doesn’t agree.

“From the 1980’s, Kolkata teams claim that their key players are injured. It has been their strategy. I feel all 18 are capable of playing.

“In fact, the player coming off the bench would be even more excited about playing as he would want to impress his coach and others. He is more determined and so, I don’t buy that argument.”

Source:Goal.com

I-League: JCT To Miss Edu

A crippled JCT would take on Mahindra United today in the fourth round I-League encounter as three of their first XI players are out due to injury concerns.

Striker Eduardo Da Silva and midfielders Baldeep Singh Senior and Junior have been ruled out of the match.

Speaking to Goal.com, Coach Sukhwinder Singh said, “In the last match, Edu played with injury. We don’t want to risk in this (today’s) match. Playing him would only worsen the situation.

“Baldeep Senior has some problem with his ankle ligament while Baldeep Junior injured himself in the last game against Mohammedan Sporting.”

The absence of Eduardo means that the team would have only one foreign player in their line-up – Julius Akpele.

“We have Julius and our local Punjabi boys. They shall do the trick.”

JCT are on a high having garnered seven points of the possible nine but Sukhwinder feels that it’s still too early to count the chickens.

“From three games, you cannot say which way the league is heading towards.”

The Punjab side were beaten by Mahindra United in the Durand Cup semi-finals earlier last month and so, the veteran coach has full respect for the 12th placed team in the I-League.

“I don’t know why they (Mahindra) are behind but we respect them.”

Playing away at JCT is always difficult for the visiting teams but the coach doesn’t heed to this notion.

“Mahindra United have all seasoned players. The weather is pleasant and the ground conditions are normal. I don’t think JCT is a difficult place to play.”

Source:Goal.com

I-League Preview: Air India – Chirag United

Air India take on Chirag United in the fourth round of the I-League at the Cooperage Stadium later today.

Air India

Air India’s results this season have been surprising considering the large chunk of players they lost in the summer. Most of their players lack experience yet their performance has been top class.

A notable aspect of the players coach Bimal Ghosh chooses, automatically seem to fit into the team and this season has been no different. The likes of Soccor Velho, Kailash Patil and others have emerged and made their presence felt in country’s top division.

Air India have been flying high and find themselves in the fourth spot with five points. At Cooperage, Air India are even stronger given the unpredictable bounce of the field as the team plays the ball over the top.

One of the most tactically sound coaches in India, without any coaching licence, Bimal Ghosh can outthink his opponents and change his strategies and get his results in no time.

Their five man defence often frustrates the opposition but their quick counters from the flanks are always a worry.

Chirag United

The Kolkata side have shown resilience and made a point that they won’t be mere roll overs. They held high flying Churchill Brothers in their last outing and did well against East Bengal in the second half. Last time at Cooperage, they shocked Mahindra United 3-1 which gave them tremendous confidence. Coach Subrata Bhattacharya would hope for a repeat performance against Air India at the same venue.

The newly promoted side are a bunch of youngsters and the ‘big club rejects’ who have gelled exceptionally well so far. Whether they can continue their good run remains to be seen.

Form Guide

Air India

12th October ’08 Air India 2-0 East Bengal (I-League)

3rd October ’08 Mohun Bagan 1-1 Air India (I-League)

27th September ’08 Mohun Bagan 1-2 Mumbai FC (I-League)

Chirag United

12th October ’08 Chirag United 0-0 Churchill Brothers SC (I-League)

4th October ’08 Mahindra United 1-3 Chirag United (I-League)

26th September ’08 East Bengal 3-1 Chirag United (I-League)

Team News

Air India are without Narendra Meetei who injured himself in the training session. Chirag United are still without Shashty Duley.

Key Areas

Playing against Air India at Cooperage won’t be easy but the defensive style of both teams might cancel each other. The teams shall rely on counterattacks and it would be interesting to see which crumbles under pressure. Chirag United would be pleased with a draw and so, it has to be Air India who have to take the initiative to attack.

Key Players

Michael Tayo has been impressive in each of the games for Air India. Chirag United would have to stop him from dominating the midfield. It’s here that the services of Hardeep Saini would come handy to Chirag United coach Subrata Bhattacharya.

Source:Goal.com

I-League Preview: East Bengal – Vasco SC

East Bengal faces Vasco SC in the fourth round of the I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium later today.

East Bengal

After two successive losses to relatively smaller teams – Mumbai FC and Air India, East Bengal hope to put their league campaign back on track.

The opening game saw them win against a weak Chirag United devoid of their foreign players. In the game against Mumbai FC, they were wayward and couldn’t make the most of the numerous opportunities presented to them.

The last match Air India was lacklustre performance at its best. They have had their problems of their won especially with injuries to key players. Surkumar Singh has been in and out and so is the case with Saumik Dey.

Sunil Chettri missed the last game and not to forget Alvito D’Cunha who won’t be returning for another two to three weeks. Edmilson Marques is down with Hepatitis B and his situation isn’t improving, East Bengal’s midfield looks wayward though it boasts of some big names.

The decision to play Yakubu in the midfield hasn’t worked for coach Stanley Rosario except in the first game. The defence lacks pace and is found wanting on several occasions. All in all, the Red and Gold’s need to put in a strong performance if they have any hopes of getting three points and moving upwards in the table.

Vasco SC

The promoted side have done fairly well considering that not much was expected of them. They impressed in the first game against Sporting Club De Goa though they lost only in the injury time of the second half. They did well to keep JCT at bay and got their first point of the season.

The match against Dempo would be remembered more for Beto and Ranti Martin’s injury than Vasco’s loss.

Playing in Kolkata would be an experience for several Vasco players and whether they could handle the pressure laden atmosphere would be put to test.

The Goan side shall bank on their Uzbekistan trio – Yorkin Nazarov, Ravshan Teshabaev and Sherzod Nazarov. They have an experienced campaigner in defender and skipper Covan Lawrence, who is popularly known as Climax Lawrence’s brother.

Form Guide

East Bengal

12th October ’08 Air India 2-0 East Bengal (I-League)

30th September ’08 East Bengal 0-1 Mumbai FC (I-League)

26th September ’08 East Bengal 3-1 Chirag United (I-League)

Team News

There is some good news for East Bengal as striker Sunil Chettri is expected to partner Yusif Yakubu upfront. Surkumar Singh and Saumik Dey are to make their comebacks while goalkeeper Subrata Paul remains doubtful. Renedy Singh is out while Alvito and Edmilson won’t return anytime soon.

Expect a lot of shuffling in the midfield while veteran defender M.Suresh is back and would replace the suspended Nirmal Chettri.

Vasco have an injury free squad.

Key Areas

East Bengal desperately needs goals and the sooner they score the better for them. Their defence is weak and Vasco’s Uzbekistan striker Ravshan would love to make an impact.

Key Players

Syed Rahim Nabi has had chances and needs to make the most of them. He has been wayward and it was him who played a key role in East Bengal’s resurgence last season.

After scoring his first goal in the second game in India and that too against champions Dempo, the confidence of the Uzbek would be high. He will threaten the East Bengal back line for sure.

Source:Goal.com

I-League Preview: JCT – Mahindra United

JCT look to continue their goof form in the I-League as they take on bottom placed Mahindra United in the fourth round of the I-League at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana.

JCT

The Punjab side had a dream start to the I-League this season when they beat Dempo in their own den despite being under pressure for most of the game.

In the second game, they looked a bit tired and short of ideas in order to penetrate the Vasco defence which didn’t allow them any room for attack.

They beat Mohammedan Sporting in the last round though the Kolkata club’s coach feels that it was his team which dominated the match.

The club still doesn’t have its third foreign player and have a number of inexperienced boys in their ranks. They have done well but whether they can sustain the level of performances is to be seen in the coming match days.

JCT enjoy home advantage and they should make it count against Mahindra United. Not many teams who travel to Punjab can come with a victory.

Mahindra United

The Red Devils didn’t have the best of starts in the league and would look to redeem themselves of further misery when they face JCT. Three losses in as many games is not what you expect from Durand Cup champions.

Against Churchill Brothers, they lost to the brilliance of Odafa Okolie. The loss to Chirag United was due to erroneous defence and midfield which gave away the possession way too cheaply. They failed to register a victory over Mumbai FC in the derby which just highlighted the bad shape of the team is in.

The Red Devils seem to have lost their way. The scenario is pretty similar to last season’s when they headed to JCT after the 5-1 loss to Churchill Brothers.

Under Coach Derrick Pereira, Mahindra United have won just once in the four visits to Punjab in the 2005-06 campaign when they became the champions.

Form Guide

JCT

11th October ’08 JCT 2-0 Mohammedan (I-League)

2nd October ’08 Vasco SC 0-0 JCT (I-League)

28th September ’08 Dempo SC 1-2 JCT (I-League)

Mahindra United

11th October ’08 Mahindra United 0-1 Mumbai FC (I-League)

4th October ’08 Mahindra United -3 Chirag United (I-League)

27th September ’08 Churchill Brothers SC 2-1 Mahindra United (I-League)

Team News

JCT have a lot to worry about as they shall miss Eduardo Da Silva, Baldeep Singh Senior and Junior as well due to injuries. This implies that the club would have just one foreign player in Julius Akpele. Lamine Tamba is still about two weeks away from return.

Mahindra United have included striker Manjit Singh for Thoi Singh in the 18.

Key Areas

JCT would miss the brilliance of Eduardo upfront but the Punjab boys are good enough to hold Mahindra United.

The Red Devils need an inspired performance from someone and most importantly, need to score goals.

Key Players

Anwar for JCT would be the key as he can nullify all the attacks coming in while Chidi Edeh would look to score against his former club.

Source:Goal.com

Friday, October 17, 2008

I-League Weekend Preview: Round IV

The I-League enters its fourth round and Goal.com previews the weekend action for Indian football lovers.

This weekend would see five games instead of six as the Dempo – Mumbai FC game has been postponed due to the former’s participation in the AFC Cup semi-final next week.

All the big teams have failed to deliver what was expected of them. The weekend gives them a chance to redeem themselves.

JCT – Mahindra United (18th October ’08, Punjab)

Mahindra United hold the dubious distinction of being the only team in the league so far who have opened their account. They have lost all their three games and haven’t impressed either.

The Red Devils were billed as one of the favourites to win the league title but with current form, that looks highly unlikely. The Mumbai team have their next four games away from home and return for the Mumbai derby against Air India, who are difficult to get away with.

Thoi Singh has been left out of the 18 while in comes Punjab boy Manjit Singh. Whether the latter can change the fortunes for Mahindra United in his homeland remains to be seen.

JCT aren’t affected by the absence of their star players – Renedy Singh and Sunil Chettri who left for East Bengal last summer. They started defensively against Dempo and made the most of the two counterattacks, gave a lacklustre display against Vasco and snapped up their first three home points last week after defeating Mohammedan Sporting.

Punjab is always a difficult place to travel and Mahindra United will have to play out of their skin to register their first three points.

Air India – Chirag United (18th October ’08, Mumbai)

Air India have had a decent I-League so far and haven’t been defeated as yet. In all their games, they have been the first to take the lead.

At Cooperage to beat Air India, you have to play exceptionally well. The bouncy ground helps the style of the Mumbai team given that they play the ball in the air very often.

In Bimal Ghosh, they have a wily tactician who can outthink his opponents.

The last time Chirag United came to the city, which was about a fortnight ago, they won the hearts with a brilliant come back in the second half against Mahindra United. A group of youngsters coupled with some ‘big club rejects’ have been turned into a strong unit by Coach Subrata Bhattacharya.

Both the teams have a lot in common – a lot of youngsters, defensive style, depending on counterattacks. It will be an interesting battle.

East Bengal – Vasco SC (18th October ’08, Kolkata)

The Kolkata giants have been disappointing this season and despite the big signings and all the humdrum about them, they find themselves in the bottom half of the table. Injury worries have been a constant problem with this side since last season.

Two consecutive losses means that the pressure is on them and any lackadaisical attitude shown by them could hit back. Coach Stanley Rosario is struggling to field his best XI. Their defensive problems never seem to end with Suleh Musa and company conceding silly goals.

They won their first game against Chirag by pelting in three goals in the first half, all of which were due to criminal defensive errors by the opposition defenders. Not to forget that Chirag were without any of their foreign players!

Vasco, on the other hand, have quite a huge task ahead of them. It’s essential for them not to be overawed by the opposition and the crowd and play their natural game.

For the first time, they are travelling and a single point from the clash for them would be as good as a victory.

Churchill Brothers SC – Sporting Club De Goa (19th October ’08, Goa)

Churchill Brothers are on four points from two games, a very result considering the off-field problems they had during the summer. They won their opener against Mahindra United but couldn’t offer much in their second game against Chirag United.

They have beaten Sporting Club de Goa on numerous occasions, including the Durand Cup semi-finals this year. Over dependence on Odafa Okolie is something that they must do away with. This is the first real test for Sporting Club de Goa this season.

Facing a team which is strong and fairly in form, Sporting would have to show that they are top of the table not by chance. They won against Mohun Bagan in the last round but the poor football the latter team has put on display, one wouldn’t count that as a real test.

Mohun Bagan – Mohammedan Sporting (19th October ’08, Kolkata)

This is the match of round four. Both the teams have had a stuttering start and occupy the 10th and 11th positions on the table. Injury worries for Bagan never seem to end, pretty much similar to their arch rivals East Bengal.

The Green and Maroon are low on confidence and their defense looks shabby. The absence of the third foreigner player isn’t helping their cause either with the AIFF reportedly ruling that Marcos Pereira cannot join the Kolkata club.

Mohammedan Sporting too have defensive problems and are on the lookout for players who would bail them out. Their strikers have been off colour as they is very little service given to them.

Nonetheless, it would be a good game and the fans are as excited for the big clash. A defeat for either of the sides would be heartbreaking.

Source:Goal.com

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

I-League: Are Mohd. Are Overly Dependent On Theo And Okoro?

With 18 of the 25 goals in the Kolkata League coming from the strike duo - Theodore Sunday and Mike Okoro, it will be fair to say that Mohammedan are heavily dependant on the pair. But are the Black and Whites only about the two foreigners? Goal.com investigates…

One point from the first three games is bad form but having said that Mohammedan are a team that are heavily dependent on home results and with 13 out of their remaining 19 games scheduled to be held in Kolkata, they would feel relatively easy.

But if we take the Kolkata League as an example, we can say that Mohammedan play well when the partnership of Theo and Okoro gets going. Everywhere in the world scoring goals is important both for surviving and challenging in a league. For Mohammedan survival will be the first priority and for that scoring goals will be an important issue.

We have seen already in the I-League that if the opposition stops the Mohammedan duo, the goals dry up for the Black and Whites. The other departments also don’t look that strong for Mohammedan and an injury to any one of the two strikers would be a serious blow as they lack the depth in the squad.

Defense

The defense lacks the experience and are error prone. Young Sheikh Azim did very well in the Kolkata League but fitness is a major issue for him. Former India U-19 defender Rajib Ghosh has the potential to be a good player but could struggle against the other marksmen of the I-League. Mir Farooq Haider is the only experienced defender in the team but even he lacks the consistency and is unlikely to complete ninety minutes week in week out.

In Naseem Akhtar they have an experienced shot stopper but he is weak in dealing with crosses and set pieces and is no longer the player that he used to be. As Mohammedan largely depend on counter attacks it’s very important that their defenders perform more consistently in the upcoming games.

Midfield

This is another department where Mohammedan look lightweight. The signing of Adebayo has given them a bit more quality in midfield but they do lack the strength in depth in this area. The performances of veteran Roque Barreto will be vital for their midfield and there is considerable potential in young players like Sovan Chakraborty,Lalchuanawma but it remains to be seen whether they can perform week in week out.

Satyajit Bose and Jyothi Kumar did well in the local league but the I-League is a different ball game altogether. The fact that Shabbir Ali plays three genuine midfielders suggests that he has complete faith in his medios but they would have their task cut out.

Attack

Other than the foreign duo of Theo and Okoro, Mohammedan has two young strikers in Vimal Pariyar and Gautam Thakur. Pariyar, former East Bengal player has shown glimpses of his talent in the Kolkata League but it would be tough for him to score or create goals in the I-League.

Thakur is still in the early days of his career and it won’t be easy for him to make an impression from the bench. It is true that Theo, sometimes, is found wanting and Okoro isn’t the player he used to be at East Bengal.

But for Mohammedan to survive the duo of Theo & Okoro have to be at their best for the entire season and also stay injury free.

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Change Of Colours - A Divine Blessing

For every Indian footballer it's a dream to play for one of the top Kolkata clubs' at least once in their career. Take the example of the current Indian team - nine out of the eleven that had started in the AFC Challenge Cup final have played for Kolkata clubs before.

For local players it's tough to retain their spot in the top clubs as high profile signings each season force them to either warm the bench or move elsewhere. In this feature we look at few players who were part of the Big Two of Kolkata but have excelled playing for the smaller clubs.

Chirag United like other small clubs have benefited the most from these group of players. Let's have a look at few of these players:

Snehashish Chakravarty

The Chirag United winger has done a brilliant job playing for his new club in the Kolkata Premier League and has made a good start in the I League. Playing for East Bengal for the past two seasons, Snehashish found himself on the bench most of the time. He showed glimpses of his talent during his rare appearances but he has been consistent in his performances at Chirag. He has already made two assists and also put in a man of the match performance against title contenders Churchill Brothers.

Gauranga Dutta

The young and energetic footballer from rural Bengal started his career as a striker. A product of the IFA Academy in Khardah, Gauranga came into limelight after his impressive performance in the 2005-2006 season when he scored nine goals in all competitions including one in the 3-1 win over arch rivals Mohun Bagan in the National League. But he soon fell behind in the pecking order and decided to move to Chirag United where he started as a right midfielder. He was one of the plus points for Chirag in a disappointing Kolkata Premier League campaign and has also started playing well in the I League. The goal against Mahindra will give him extra confidence to perform even better in the upcoming matches.

Shashty Duley

The highly experienced midfielder is very important in Chirag's plans. The former East Bengal great might be past his prime but his experience will be vital for Chirag to survive in the I-League. Shasthy was at his best for Chirag last season when he helped them to a third place finish in the Kolkata Premier League.

Dulal Biswas

The former Mohun Bagan right back has one of the best defenders of the I-League so far. The arrival of several outstation young defenders forced the former Indian international to move to Chirag and his reunion with Subrata Bhattacharya has been a big plus for the promoted club. Along with the two foreigners (Daniel and Louis Ebami) the presence of Dulal Biswas makes Chirag defense a reasonable outfit.

Hardeep Saini

After starting his career with Punjab Police, Hardeep Singh Saini made a trip down south and came into the spotlight while playing for Sporting Club De Goa under Nigerian Coach Clifford Chukuwama.

People in Kolkata largely remember him for scoring that brilliant long range goal against East Bengal and his consistent performances for the Goan club earned him a move to East Bengal. But the midfielder was never a regular for the Red and Gold brigade and that saw him move to Chirag United.

But that still didn't change his fortune as injury forced him to miss a large part of the Kolkata League and soon he became a reserve in the Chirag team.

An inspiring performance in the second half of the opening day of the season changed all that. He has now become a regular in the team and after three outstanding displays against East Bengal, Mahindra United and Churchill his career is back on track.

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Round Five Two Matches' Venue Changed

Two games from round five of the I-League have had their venue changed in order to incorporate the change is scheduling due to Dempo’s AFC Cup engagements.

Mumbai FC who were to face league leaders Sporting Club De Goa on the 24th of this month at Cooperage Stadium would now play at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.

While Chirag United shall host JCT at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on the 23rd after the latter was to play the former in their home ground in Punjab.

Speaking to Goal.com, Mr.Anil Kamat, Director of Competitions (AIFF) said, “We had to change the schedule keeping in mind Dempo’s situation as they are participating in the AFC Cup. If they make further progress in the competition, there will be further changes in the scheduling.”

Source:Goal.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

I-League Sunday Round Up

Round III of the I-League 2008-2009 season winded down on Sunday as Dempo and Air India registered impressive wins while Chirag United continued their good performance with a draw at home.

Goan giants Dempo edged past Vasco Sports Club 2-1 at the Nehru Stadium in Fotorda to earn their first victory of the new I-League season. Two goals in six minutes in the first half were good enough for the reigning I-League champions to scrape through to their first victory of the season.

Roberto Silva headed home in the 24th minute after Anthony Pereira sent a high cross. Ranty Martins then doubled the lead six minutes later when he taped home a cross from Pereira again.

That spurred Vasco to action and they quickly came out of their shell, striker Ravshan Teshabaev pulling back a goal for Vasco in the 32nd minute after a mistake from Dempo defender John Dias. Vasco continued to attack in the second half and came close to getting the equalizer in the 58th minute when Menino Fernandes’ curling shot was put out of sander by Dempo goalkeeper Satish Kumar.

Elsewhere on Sunday in the I-League, Chirag United did quite well to hold Churchill Brothers to a goalless draw at the Barasat Stadium. Snehashish Chakraborty of Chirag was adjudged the man of the match. Chirag now have four points from three matches.

In the other match on Sunday, Air India achieved an astonishing victory as they defeated Kolkata giants East Bengal at the Coopearage Ground, Surojit Roy and Michael Tayo scoring the goals.

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Saturday Round Up

JCT, Sporting Club de Goa and Mumbai FC defeated Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan and Mahindra United respectively in the I-League on Saturday to make it a day when all the home teams won their matches.

While JCT beat Mohammedan 2-0 at the Guru Nanak Dev Stadium, Sporting won by the same margin against Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan. Meanwhile, Mumbai FC continued their good display in the I-League as they won 1-0 against Mahindra United.

JCT were dominant at home against Kolkata side Mohammedan and two goals were enough to see them gather three vital points. Baljit Sahni gave them the lead in added minutes of the first half and then man-of-the-match Eduardo Da Silva secured the victory for JCT in the 68th minute.

Sporting Club de Goa, meanwhile, won their third match in a row as goals from Wilton Gomes and Nathaniel Amos were enough see the Goan giants gain a comfortable victory over former National Football League champions Mohun Bagan.

Sporting were dominant right from the start with Joseph Pereira and Harmanjot Khabra combining well with each other in the initial stages; striker Joychandra too ably contributed at the start. Sporting deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute when Pereira delivered an exquisite cross that Wilton Gomes headed towards the goal. Defender Mohan Raj then shot the ball into the own net to give Sporting a 1-0 lead.

Mohun Bagan were stunned by that goal but couldn't launch any major attack, in spite of striker Jose Ramirez Barretto sending in some good crosses which went to waste. Sporting secured all three points two minutes after the breather when Joseph Pereira delivered a cross from the left and Nathaniel Amos headed the ball to the far end of the post.

In another I-League match on Saturday, Mumbai FC defeated Mahindra United 1-0 at the Cooperage Stadium.

Source:Goal.com

Thursday, October 9, 2008

I-League: Chirag Stage Dramatic Comeback

A brilliant come back by Chirag United saw them beat Mahindra United after being a goal down in the first half in the second round I-League match at the Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai.

Goals from Muritala Ali, Gauranga Dutta and Hardeep Singh in the second half snapped up the three points for the newly promoted side. Earlier, Sushil Kumar had opened the scoring of the day for Mahindra United.

Mahindra United started with Sukhwinder Singh in the center of the park with N.P.Pradeep marshalling the back-line. Chirag fielded their three foreigners – Muritala Ali, Louis Ebami and Daniel Ayeni.

The match began and the home side eased into the game comfortably. They moved the ball around with confidence and were rewarded inside the opening 10 minutes as Sushil Kumar headed in a Steven Dias cross.

Two minutes later, Chidi Edeh had a brilliant opportunity to double the lead after Steven Dias as the provider once again. Chidi failed to connect his feet to the ball and Chirag custodian Robikanta Singh saved the danger.

The Red Devils got into the groove and Chirag United midfielders were guilty of conceding the possession. Sushil Kumar drived the ball from 25 yards straight into the hands of the Chirag goalkeeper.

It was then that Chirag coach Subrata Bhattacharya made his only substitution of the game, which completely turned the colour of the match.

Midfielder Hardeep Singh came on for left back Dhanarajan and Subashish Chowdhury was pushed into the defensive position.

Striker Muritala Ali went away from two Mahindra defenders inside the box and his final shot was pushed for a corner by a diving Subashish Chowdhury.

The 37th minute saw Chidi kick-start a counter attack and the ball fell to Sushil who shot it into the sky from 20 yards.

Chirag United caught Mahindra by surprise in the second half as Gauranga Dutta floated in a cross for Muritala Ali who lobbed it into the net to restore parity for his side. The Kolkata side grew in confidence and Hardeep Singh was the playmaker as he kept feeding his players. Chirag grew in confidence with each minute and scored their second in seven minutes.

Left winger Snehashish Chakraborty’s ball for Gauranga Dutta was meant with a powerful left footed shot which hit the inside of the top bar and came out. The Chirag number 30 headed the ball and it again came of the inside of the bar. The third attempt saw him slot the ball and put his side ahead.

Coach Derrick Pereira made some quick substitutions by introducing Sushant Matthew and Thoi Singh to inspire the side. The midfield squandered the ball and failed to create opportunities from open play.

The best chance came off a free-kick as Steven Dias’s shot hit the right post and went out. The stadium grew darker with the grey clouds and so was Mahindra United’s day. Substitute Mohamed Rafi’s shot was tipped over the bar by an alert Robikanta Singh in the 82nd minute.

The final nail in the coffin was inserted by Hardeep Singh after Muritala Ali did the hard work.

It has been a sad start to their I-League season as Mahindra United slumped to their second defeat in as many games. The Mumbai club would have to pick themselves before they face high-flying Mumbai FC on 11th.

Chirag United would be more than pleased with the result and deserve all credit for putting on a strong performance. They outshone Mahindra United in the second half and got the maximum points.

Final Score: 3-1

Goalscorers Chirag: Muritala Ali (46th), Gauranga Dutta (52nd) and Hardeep Singh (87th) Goalscorer Mahindra: Sushil Kumar 9th)

Source:Goal.com

I-League: Sporting Demolish Mohammedan 3-0

Two goals from Junior and a solo effort from Micky Fernandes were enough for Sporting club de Goa to gain maximum points from their home match against Mohammedan Sporting in the I-League on Saturday.

The match between Sporting Club de Goa and Mohammedan Sporting started slowly with neither of the two sides able to dominate the match in the opening exchanges. There were several wrong passes and except a few timid crosses, there wasn’t much coherence in either side.

Sporting made the first concrete move of the match in the 16th minute when star striker Junior ran past one defender but failed to retain his cool and was tackled off the ball near the goalmouth. Two minutes later Junior had his ferocious shot deflected onto the post by Mohammedan goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar.

The home side continued pressing on. Midfielder Joychandra had a chance in the 19th minute but headed the ball wide. He looked creative on the right wing for Sporting for a short spell in the first half.

Sporting again had a decent chance in the 25th minute thanks to some lovely work from Joseph Perreira and it again fell to Junior. The striker was in the thick of action again in the 36th minute after a brilliant move on the left resulted in an exquisite cross but Junior could only blast the ball over the crossbar.

But Mohammedan didn’t give up and did create a few chances of their own. The Sporting defence was caught napping in the 39th minute when everybody seemed to stop but fortunately for the home side Mohammedan couldn’t take advantage of the situation. Then Sheikh Azim of Mohammedan headed the ball wide.

The second half started with an evident lack of urgency but it didn’t take much time for the game to pick up momentum. Mohammedan were the first to come out of the block as Joyti Kumar, Mike Okoro and Theo combined in the 52nd minute to send a reminder to the Sporting defence that they still meant to win the match.

But Sporting took over from there and dominated the match thereafter. Star striker Junior drew first blood in the 63rd minute when he headed home from a corner and gave his side a 1-0 lead.

That goal seemed to open the floodgates as Sporting started piling the pressure and the goals on the Kolkata side. Anthony D’Souza constructed a very good chance in the 72nd minute when he ran along the left flank, cut inside and exhibited a brilliant individual effort only to shoot just wide off the near post.

Micky Fernandes, who had been solid and creative throughout the match, displayed why he is regarded one of the best footballers in the country when in the 75th minute he ran almost 50 yards, got past a few players and slotted home for what was one of the best goals in the I-League so far.

That gave the home side a 2-0 advantage that became a 3-0 lead in the very next minute when Junior scored the second of the match, this time with a sharply chiseled chip from the right side.

Mohammedan lost all hope of a comeback after that and although they did try to salvage some pride in the remaining minutes, the Kolkata club didn’t have the midfield force to torment the Sporting defence.

Source:Goal.com

Friday, October 3, 2008

I-League: Mohun Bagan Fail To Win Against Air India

Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan are still seeking their first win of the new I-League season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Air India at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Friday evening.


Air India started the match as the more adventurous side and started their raid on the Mohun Bagan citadel right from the first minute. They romped towards the Bagan defence and managed to eke out a few corners in the initial minutes but did not construct anything concrete.

Air India midfielder Surojit Roy was the main source of danger for Mohun Bagan in the opening exchanges as his crosses seemed to send some concern into the Bagan backline. Air India had more possession and looked more attacking while Mohun Bagan relied on the swift counter-attack.

Mohun Bagan’s left sided midfielder Ishfaq Ahmed put in a low drive in the 7th minute. This was Mohun Bagan’s first attack of any sort in the match. The Kolkata giants then gradually came back into the game and pushed the airmen further into their shell.

Lalkamal Bhoumick’s long ranger in the 13th minute was saved by Air India goalkeeper Arup Debnath in what was Mohun Bagan’s first real chance. One minute later Lalwampuia had a good chance with another long-range effort after a brilliant move by the Mohun Bagan players that exposed the defensive frailties of Air India.

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan’s star man Jose Ramirez Baretto was grooving into his form and was constructing distress in the Air India defence. He had a chance in the 24th minute and did ruffle some feathers in the Air India D-box but nothing concrete came out of it. By this time Air India had been pushed onto the backfoot and their defence was revealing cracks.

Their goalkeeper Arup Debnath then pulled off an excellent save when he staved off an unexpected but vicious shot from Baretto on the half hour mark from the right side of the Air India penalty box.

Air India did have their own chances though. A corner for them in the 34th minute created pell-mell in the Bagan area but the subsequent shot was blasted wide over the crossbar. Kailash Patil then hit the ball wide on a one-on-one situation in the 43rd minute to waste a quicksilver counter—attacking move initiated deep inside the Air India box after Mohun Bagan wasted a corner.

Then much against the run of play, Air India took the lead on the stroke of half-time after an unmarked Soccor Velo poked the ball into the back of the Mohun Bagan net from a freekick on the left side of Bagan’s penalty area to gift his side a 1-0 lead. Mohun Bagan started the second half trying to claw back into the match but somehow failed to show urgency. They didn’t have much pace and were initially restricted to long range efforts.

Lalwampuia hit the ball over the crossbar in the 52nd minute and then Ishfaq took an attempt at goal with a venomous shot. Half-time substitute Mama then tried his luck on the hour mark but his free header went wide off the post.

Although Air India were pushed deep into their own half, they grasped every counter-attacking opportunity that came along their path. Midfielder Surojit Roy took an aimless shot at Shilton Paul’s goal in the 65th minute.

Although Mohun Bagan continued to press on in search of an equalizer, they were restricted mostly to half-chances and throw ins. But they were eventually rewarded in the 71st minute when Rakesh Mashi’s long clearance found Lalwampuia on the left wing whose exquisite cross was hit home by second half substitute Branco Cardozo.

Mohn Bagan then went seeking the winner. They did press on but couldn’t really make any clear-cut chance for themselves in the remainder of the match. On the other hand, Air India played on the counter and went close in the 83rd minute when Michael Tayo’s header was tipped over the crossbar by Shilton Paul.

So Mohun Bagan have to wait for some more time to register their first win of the season in the I-League while Air India must be dleighted to gain a point from this match.

Subhankar Mondal

Source:Goal.com

Thursday, October 2, 2008

I-League Preview: Mohun Bagan – Air India

Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan face Air India in a second round I-League clash at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata later today.


Mohun Bagan

The Kolkata champions had a disappointing start to their I-League campaign last year and it took four games for them to register their first win. Any guesses who was the opposition?

It was skipper Bhaichung Bhutia who led them from the front as his two goals buried Air India last season despite the fact that it was the Mumbai club who had the better of the opportunities, according to Coach Bimal Ghosh.

The Green and Maroon don’t have Bhaichung this time which automatically puts the onus on Jose Baretto. Unlike some of the other big teams like Dempo, East Bengal, Mahindra United and Churchill Brothers, they two reliable names which come to mind in Bagan squad are the two B’s – Bhaichung and Baretto.

Going by their form in the last game against Mumbai FC, they need some inspiration in the middle, which sadly for Bagan fans is inexperienced and crowded by players who have been inconsistent.

Coach Karim Bencherifa would turn to one such player – Lal Kamal Bhowmick, who has promised so much but hasn’t delivered on a number of occasions.

The Kolkata team haven’t yet signed their third foreigner and it shows the lackadaisical and easy going nature. They even reportedly blamed the pitch conditions for their defeat and Salt Lake Stadium would definitely be a better bet for them.

The lack of a genuine playmaker is hurting and whether Bencherifa’s boys would come out in glory remains to be seen.

Air India

The Mumbai club has done fairly well considering they had as many as six new players against Mohameddan Sporting in their opening game. Bimal Ghosh’s men played well and were the better side in the 1-1 draw.

It was only because of a defensive mistake that Mohameddan were able to make a come back, not to take anything away from Theodore Sunday’s class.

Michael Tayo, Surojit Bose and Soccor Velho looked at ease and came up with some good counter attacks. Uttam Singh’s venomous throw-ins are always a danger.

Kailash Patil is expected to play in place of Samson Singh who is nursing a niggling injury.

Form Guide

Mohun Bagan

27th September ’08 Mohun Bagan 1-2 Mumbai FC (I-League)

12th September ’08 Mohun Bagan 1-1 East Bengal (Kolkata League)

9th September ’08 Mohun Bagan 1-0 Camellia George (Kolkata League)

Air India

29th September ’08 Mohameddan Sporting 1-1 Air India (I-League)

1st September ’08 JCT 1-0 Air India (Durand Cup)

30th August ’08 Sporting Club De Goa 1-0 Air India (Durand Cup)

Team News

Mohun Bagan are crippled with injuries to several players. Goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee, defenders Deepak Mandal and Habibur Rahman, and skipper Bhaichung Bhutia have been ruled out of the game. Lal Kamal Bhowmick, N.Mohanraj, Rahul Kumar and Lalwampuia are expected to start.

Air India are without striker Samson Singh and are set to unveil Kailash Patil on the Kolkata giants.

Key Players

The home side would bank on Baretto and Lalwampuia to click and win the game for them. For Air India, midfielder Michael Tayo could dominate the Bagan midfield and thus be an important man for his side.

Key Areas

Air India are often very defensive and tough to break down as they put as many persons behind the ball and crowd the box. It restricts the opposition to go for long shots, which are they are fairly comfortable with.

Bagan would have to think of ways to overpower Air India, who can be deadly on counters. Lalwampuia’s pace could add more power to Bagan’s attack which could trouble the Air India backline.

I-League: Vasco, JCT Play Out A Goalless Draw

JCT and Vasco could neither break the other’s defence when the referee blew his final whistle and have shared a point each. Both the teams played out a drub affair at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.


Vasco has three changes from the side that faced Sporting on the opening day with the three Uzbekistan foreigners coming in. JCT made two changes with Amandeep on the right wing and Jagpreet in the middle of the park.

Vasco enjoyed the initial touches and they looked to play short passes but nothing tangible came of it except for maybe settling their nerves.

The first opportunity befell JCT’s way as Jagpreet’s floater was taken by Eduardo and his left footer to find the far post missed the target by inches.

Five minutes later, young striker Balwant Singh’s goalwards bound shot was saved by Vasco goalkeeper Kattimani. Vasco were giving away possession far too easily while JCT though comfortable on the ball lacked ideas in the final third.

Eduardo Da Silva was fouled and the resultant free-kick saw Kattimani only just managing it to tip it over the bar.

Vasco did allow far too much space to the JCT players in their box with Gurwinder easily twisting and turning off an Eduardo throw in with Baljit hitting it way over the bar.

The 28th minute saw Baljit sending a measured cross for Eduardo at the far post but his first time shot went wide. Vasco weren’t able to test JCT custodian Karanjit Singh and the player got a deserved rest especially after his heroics in the last game against Dempo.

The second half wasn’t different either as neither sides could seize the initiative from the other. The midfield lacked creativity and vision while the defenders did their job with ease.

Not often were goalkeepers called for and the strikers looked frustrated with the lack of service. The best move of the game came only three minutes from time when Eduardo found Jaswinder and the latter’s cross was headed over the bar by Pawan Kumar.

JCT would be disappointed to come out of the match with a single point, a match which they should have won. Vasco would be more than pleased with their first point of the season and Coach Elvis Goes would settle for that.

Final Score: 0-0.

Source:Goal.com