I-League - Round 8: League split in two

The eighth Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on January 8/9 across India. The focus is on Team India and the Asian Cup, but still the I-league is going on and East Bengal continue to be top of the league followed by Salgaocar with four other teams behind them, while the rest for the moment are fighting against relegation.


Round 8 Match by Match Short Review
08-Jan-2011: East Bengal Club 1-0 (0-0) Pune FC (in Kolkata)
League leaders East Bengal Club returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win against Pune FC at the Saltlake Stadium. But it was a tough fight for the red-and-gold who were streched by Pune, but in the end Tolgay Ozbey once more scored the winner to get the club their seventh win in eight games.

08-Jan-2011: Mumbai FC 2-0 (0-0) Viva Kerala (in Kolhapur)
Mumbai FC returned to winning ways with a deserving 2-0 win against Viva Kerala in Kolhapur. Their hero of the day was Nigerian Ebi Theophilus Sukore, who scored both of Mumbai FC's goals. After a goalless first session it was Ebi Theophilus Sukore who gave the Mumbai side the lead and he would double it in injury time through a penalty.

08-Jan-2011: Salgaocar SC 4-3 (4-2) Churchill Brothers SC (in Goa)
Salgaocar SC won a thrilling Goan derby 4-3 against rivals Churchill Brothers SC to remain the only side keeping pace with league leaders East Bengal Club. In a fast-paced attacking game of football the men in green-and-whie prevailed over their red rivals who lost star striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie early due to injury. Kiwi striker Kayne Vincent gave Churchill Brothers the lead, but Salgaocar would turn things quickly around with goals from Jaspal Singh Parmar and Luciano Sabrosa before Israil Gurung would equalise for Churchill Brothers. But Salgaocar would go with a 4-2 lead into the break as Japanese Ryuji Sueoka would score two goals. After the break Churchill Brothers would pressure their opponents, but they only would get be able to reduce the deficit through Kayne Vincent.

08-Jan-2011: AIFF XI 1-1 (1-1) Dempo SC (in Mumbai)
Defending champions Dempo SC were held to a one-all draw by the AIFF XI youngsters in Gurgaon. Dempo had problems to adopt to the cool conditions of north India which helped the AIFF XI to take an eighth minute lead through Shilton D'Silva, but the Goans would equalise in the 30th minute through Ranty Martins Soleye, who got them the equaliser off a Joaquim Abranches pass, but the Nigerian striker missed the chance to win the game for his club as his penalty in the 45th minute was blocked after Subodh Kumar hand handled the ball.

09-Jan-2011: Mohun Bagan AC 0-1 (0-0) Chirag United SC (in Kolkata)
Mohun Bagan AC suffered a lone goal defeat in a small Kolkata derby at the Saltlake Stadium against Chirag United SC. Brazilian Josimar da Silva Martins turned from hero to villain and back in only a matter of days in the I-League after scoring the winner. The smaller Kolkata side were the better of the two sides as they controlled most of the game against a defensive Mohun Bagan. And Josimar would score the winner in the 80th minute.

09-Jan-2011: JCT 1-0 (0-0) ONGC (in Ludhiana)
JCT scored a one-nil win against newcomers ONGC to keep the three points in Ludhiana. On a cold and windy afternoon in Punjab the home team took full advantage of the difficult conditions with Nigerian Badru Keke Ibrahim scoring the winner in the 38th minute. Their second win of the I-League campaign took JCT a little away from the relegation zone, while ONGC are now bottom of the league.

09-Jan-2011: Air India 1-1 (0-0) HAL, Bangalore (in Kolhapur)
In a match-up of public sector units Air India were held to a one-all draw by Bangalore's HAL in Kolhapur. After a goalless first session the Airmen from Mumbai upped the pressure on their opponents, but it would be the Bangalore side who would take the lead through their captain Xavier Vijayakumar in the 76th minute. Still Hal wouldn't take home the three points as Air India would equalise through youngster Collin Abranches.


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