I-League - Round 5: East Bengal now alone on top

The fifth Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on December 22/23 across India. East Bengal are now the lone team at the top of the I-League standings with 15 points from five matches after they beat Salgaocar SC to end their unbeaten run. In some good news the AIFF XI got their first-ever win in the league against Air India which pushes them up from the bottom of the table, while JCT are now last in the table with another loss.


Round 5 Match by Match Short Review
22-Dec-2010: East Bengal Club 1-0 (0-0) Salgaocar SC (in Kolkata)
East Bengal Club prevailed in the top of the table I-League clash against Salgaocar with Australian Tolgay Ozbey once more scoring in a lone goal victory. In the first session it was more of an even match with both sides trying to score, but the longer the match lasted the more it tilted in East Bengal's favour as their defence once more did not concede a goal. Tolgay Ozbey would score the only goal of the match on the hour mark, but East Bengal could have won the match by a bigger margin.

22-Dec-2010: AIFF XI 2-1 (1-0) Air India (in Gurgaon)
The AIFF XI, India's Under-20 team, got their first-ever win of the I-League by beating Air India 2-1 in Gurgaon. After their trashings against East Bengal and Salgaocar people questioned why such an inexperienced side is playing the league, but the boys gave the right answer today. They were the better of the two sides and Shilton D'Silva gave them the lead through a header in the 33rd minute with Jagtar Singh doubling the lead in the 73rd minute before Samson Singh reduced the deficit in injury time.

22-Dec-2010: Dempo SC 1-0 (0-0) Mumbai FC (in Goa)
Defending champions Dempo SC needed the brilliance of Roberto Mendes Silva to overcome a fighting Mumbai FC. The Brazilian scored of a freekick in the 58th minute to keep the three points in Goa. It was an open game in the first session with Dempo having the better chances. After the break they took the lead and late in the game Mumbai FC did try to equalise but failed.

23-Dec-2010: JCT 0-1 (0-0) Mohun Bagan AC (in Ludhiana)
Mohun Bagan AC scored their first win of the 4th I-League, a 1-0 win in Ludhiana away to JCT who are now bottom of the league with their fourth defeat in five matches. It was a crucial win for the Subhas Bhowmick coached Kolkata giants, who won through a second half goal from India Under-23 international Manish Maithani, who later also earned the 'Man of the Match' award for his performance.

23-Dec-2010: ONGC 1-1 (1-0) Pune FC (in Kolhapur)
Both clubs went into the game with the aim of finally winning their first game, but once more it ended in stalement for the two sides from Maharashtra. Nigerian N.D. Opara gave the Oilmen a first half lead, which another African striker in Mandjou Keita egalised for Pune FC just before the end of the game.

23-Dec-2010: Churchill Brothers SC 1-1 (0-1) Viva Kerala (in Goa)
Odafe Onyeka Okolie had to come to the rescue of Churchill Brothers SC with an injury time equaliser to allow the Goans to hold Viva Kerala to a 1-1 draw. Former Churchill Brothers striker Felix Chimaokwu had given Viva Kerala the lead, but once more it ended one-all for Viva, their fourth 1-1 draw in a row. Odafe meanwhile kept his incredible I-league intact scoring his ninth goal in only the fifth match. This time around Odafe needed a penalty to score after he himself had been brought down by defender Charles Dzisah, who received his marching orders for his second yellow card.

23-Dec-2010: Chirag United SC 1-0 (1-0) HAL, Bangalore (in Kolkata)
Chirag United SC returned to winning way by beating promoted HAL at the Saltlake Stadium. The winning goal came on the stroke of half time through winger Jerry Zirsanga off a pass from Lalkamal Bhowmick. The Kolkata side had more of the game and deservingly won the game to earn three points which moved them to eight points past HAL who remain on seven.


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