I-League - Round 3: A mixed bag of results

The third Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on December 11, 12 & 13 across India. East Bengal Club, Salgaocar SC and Mumbai FC continue to remain top of the league with an all win record after the third round as former I-league champions Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers SC got their first win, while clubs like Mohun Bagan AC, Pune FC, JCT and Viva Kerala remain winless. Bottom of the league after the AIFF XI after their worst loss so far.


Round 3 Match by Match Short Review
11-Dec-2010: Chirag United SC 0-0 Air India (in Kolkata)
Chirag United SC were held to a dull goalless draw by Air India at home at the Saltlake Stadium. The Kolkata side was uninspirational against the Airmen who were happy to stand deep and defend.

11-Dec-2010: Dempo SC 2-0 (2-0) JCT (in Goa)
I-League champions Dempo SC scored their first win of the 4th I-League a 2-0 win against former NFL champions JCT. The match marked the return of Roberto Mendes Silva and the Brazilian had a direct impact on the game as he would give Dempo the lead off a rebound after Ranty Martins Soleye missed a penalty, but the Nigerian made up for his mistake only a few minutes later to double the lead in the 35th minute and it would stay this way until the end.

12-Dec-2010: ONGC 0-1 (0-0) Salgaocar SC (in Kolhapur)
Salgaocar SC continued their winning run in the I-League with a 1-0 away win against newcomers ONGC to make it three wins out of three matches. Seasoned Ghanian Yakubu Yusif scored the winner for the Goans on the 65th minute against a fighting ONGC, who once more remained winless.

12-Dec-2010: Churchill Brothers SC 2-0 (1-0) Mohun Bagan (in Goa)
In a match-up of former champions Churchill Brothers SC won against Mohun Bagan AC through two goals from their star striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie as Mohun Bagan did commit a number of blunders in defence. The Goans took an early fourth minute lead off a Odafe goal and in the middle of the second session Odafe once more scored for his team, this time of a penalty. The match also meant the end of Stanley Rozario's reign as green-and-maroon coach as he resigned earlier today.

12-Dec-2010: East Bengal Club 4-0 (0-0) AIFF XI (in Kolkata)
East Bengal continued their winning streak in the I-League with a 4-0 win against the youngsters from the AIFF XI, who did give their more experienced rivals a run for their money in a goalless first session, but once East Bengal went ahead the youngsters cracked under the pressure which followed. A brace from youngster Robin Singh and a goal each from foreigners Penn Ikechukwu Orji and Tolgay Ozbey gave the red-and-gold a clear win.

12-Dec-2010: Viva Kerala 1-1 (0-0) Pune FC (in Kannur)
Vive Kerala were nearly there, but a late equaliser from Pune FC denied them their first win of this I-League. It was Viva Kerala for most of the match, but the Keralite's just weren't able to score and had to wait until the 73rd minute to take the lead through Jimshad U. and it looked like they would keep the three points in Kannur, but in the last minute of injury time Sunil Kumar would head in the equaliser.

13-Dec-2010: Mumbai FC 1-0 (0-0) HAL, Bangalore (in Kolhapur)
Mumbai FC beat HAL 1-0 to continue their run without dropping points, while they ended HAL's unbeaten run. It was a tense first session with both sides looking for the opening, but it remained goalless at the breather. But after the break Mumbai FC became more active and scored the winner through striker Ebi Theophilus Sukore.


Click here for the 4th I-League 2010/11 - League Table & Fixtures .