I-League - Round 14: ONGC shock East Bengal, Salgaocar now top

The fourteenth Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on February 11, 12 & 13 across India. It is the upset of the I-League so far when bottom placed side ONGC defeated unbeaten league leaders East Bengal 1-0 and then Salgaocar SC moved into the top spot due to a better goal difference.


Round 14 Match by Match Short Review
12-Feb-2011: Dempo SC 2-0 (1-0) Churchill Brothers SC (in Goa)
I-League champions Dempo SC scored a crucial 2-0 win against Goan rivals Churchill Brothers SC to close the gap on the leagues top three. Winger Joaquim Abranches gave Dempo's the lead in the 12th minute through a lob over an advancing Arindam Bhattacharya. It was an up and down match with chances on both sides before Nigerian Ranty Martins Soleye settled the match in his teams favour in the 82th minute.

12-Feb-2011: ONGC 1-0 (0-0) East Bengal Club (in Kolhapur)
ONGC shocked league leaders East Bengal Club with a lone goal victory in Kolhapur. The red-and-gold missed a number of regulars due to suspensions and injuries while coach Trevor Morgan had to sit in the stands due to his running onto the pitch in the derby against Mohun Bagan. All this put together seemed to upset the rhythm of the side who didn't play their usual free flowing football. ONGC's tactics seemed to work and then Badmus Babatunde scored a gem of a goal in the 53rd minute to give the Oilmen an unexpected win.

11-Feb-2011: Indian Arrows 0-0 Chirag United SC (in Gurgaon)
The Indian Arrows were held to a goalless draw in Gurgaon by Chirag United SC. The Indian Juniors were the better of the two sides on display, but lack of finishing did them in against a Chirag United who were happy to take a point home.

12-Feb-2011: HAL, Bangalore 0-0 JCT (in Bangalore)
Promoted HAL and JCT played out a rather lacklustre draw at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore. It was a game of few chances with only one outcome really possible, a goalless draw with which the hosts weren't at all happy while JCT were happy to take a point home.

13-Feb-2011: Mohun Bagan AC 0-0 Pune FC (in Kolkata)
Mohun Bagan AC and Pune FC played out a goalless draw to continue both the clubs recent good runs in the I-League. But there wasn't much action as the home team couldn't really build the pressure while PFC would most rely on counter attacks.

13-Feb-2011: Salgaocar SC 4-0 (2-0) Viva Kerala (in Goa)
With a 4-0 trashing of bottom placed Viva Kerala at home, Salgaocar SC moved to the top of the I-League standings with a two goal better goal difference then rivals East Bengal.
It was often one way traffic in this game which the Goans controlled, but it needed a goal from seasoned Yakubu Yusif in the 34th minute to open the floodgates. Salgaocar's lead was doubled in the 39th minute through Japanese recruit Ryuji Sueoka. After the break former Salgaocar striker Felix Chumaokwu could have reduced the deficit, but as he didn't Yakubu would add a third before substitute striker Eneke Ikenwa would add a fourth in injury time.

13-Feb-2011: Air India 0-1 (0-1) Mumbai FC (in Kolhapur)
An early sixth minute goal from Ezeh Nna Henry was enough for Mumbai FC take home the three points in their Mumbai derby against Air India in Kolhapur. Thereafter it often was midfield action which did not yield the desired results as Mumbai FC strengthen their position in the top half, while Air India continue to fight relegation.


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