I-League - Round 15: Salgaocar move clear

The fifteenth Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on February 16 & 20 across India with the matches East Bengal vs Dempo and Pune FC vs Mumbai FC slated for May 15. Salgaocar took advantage of that fact to score a 4-1 win and move clear at the top.


Round 15 Match by Match Short Review
15-May-2011: East Bengal Club 3-2 (0-1) Dempo SC (in Kolkata)
Former NFL champions East Bengal Club came from behind to defeat reigning I-League champions Dempo SC 3-2 in an exciting match at the Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata. East Bengal now have 47 points from 22 matches, while Dempo stay on 44 from the same number of games.
Dempo took an early seventh minute lead through a Ranty Martins Soleye goal and it was an open game thereafter with more chances for East Bengal, but Dempo went into the break with a one goal lead. Things would change after the break as the red-and-gold were on fire. First Baljit Singh Sahni would equalise two minutes into the half. Then a double strike from Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey in the 50th and 57th minute gave the local side a 3-1 lead. The referee Dinesh Nair had his hands full with a lot at stake - tons of yellow cards and three red cards. First Dempo's Clifford Miranda and then East Bengal's Gurwinder Singh and Nirmal Chetri were all send off. The match was stopped for a while as Mahesh Gawli was taken off the field and to a hospital, which led to the match having more then 10 minutes of injury time. Just before the end Roberto Mendes Silva would reduce the margin through a penalty after Nirmal Chetri handled the ball in the box.

15-May-2011: Pune FC 1-1 (0-0) Mumbai FC (in Pune)
Pune FC and Mumbai FC played out a one-all draw in their mid-table clash at Pune's Balewadi Sports Complex. MFC stay in fifth place with 33 points while PFC remain seventh with 30 points as both sides have played 24 matches.
After a goalless first session substitute Singam Subash Singh gave Pune FC a 65th minute lead, but six minutes from time Mumbai FC's Ebi Theophilus Sukore would equalise for his team and the game ended in a stalemate.

16-Feb-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 3-1 (1-1) JCT (in Goa)
Former champions Churchill Brothers SC continued their good recent form with a 3-1 win against JCT in Goa. The Millmen from Punjab would take a first half lead through Omolaja Nurain Kareem, which was equalised by Mohammed Rafi. In the second session M.P. Sakeer and Boima Karpeh would score for the Goans to give them a comfortable 3-1 win.

20-Feb-2011: Chirag United SC 1-4 (1-1) Salgaocar SC (in Kolkata)
Salgaocar SC scored a crucial 4-1 away win against Chirag United SC in Kolkata to open up a three point gap against title rivals East Bengal Club at the top of the I-League. Chirag United were the better of the two sides early on in the match and took a deserving fourth minute lead through Elijah Obagbemiro Junior, but then Denson Devadas would get his marching order for two quick cards that changed the complexion of the game and tilted it in favour of Salgaocar, who got the equaliser from a beautiful shot from Yakubu Yusif. Salgaocar build pressure on the ten men of Chirag United, who did try and remain in the game, but the Goans second goal from Francis Fernandes off a James Singh corner sealed the game before substitute striker Eneke Ikenwa would add a brace.

20-Feb-2011: HAL, Bangalore 1-1 (1-1) Mohun Bagan AC (in Bangalore)
Promoted HAL held much more famed Mohun Bagan AC to a one-all draw in Bangalore. The green-and-maroon took the lead on the half hour mark through a goal from Indian international Surkumar Singh, but seasoned J. Muralidharan equalised within seven minutes and the result stayed that way until the end.

20-Feb-2011: Viva Kerala 7-1 (2-0) Air India (in Kannur)
The relegation battle between Viva Kerala and Air India in Kannur ended in an emphatic 7-1 victory for the hosts. Viva Kerala's seven goals scored today are as many as in their I-League campaign so far. At the breather Viva Kerala were only leading 2-0 through goals from P.K. Anil Kumar and Felix Chimaokwu with no signs what would come in the second session. After the break P.K. Anil Kumar would score another two, T. Karma would add a brace and Indian international N.P. Pradeep scored the first for his home state club. Okorogor Nnabuike Praise could only score a consolation goal for the Airmen.

16-Feb-2011: ONGC 1-1 (0-0) Indian Arrows (in Kolhapur)
ONGC held Indian Arrows to a late one-all draw in Kolhapur. The India Juniors seemed to have sealed victory with an 86th minute goal from striker Jeje Lalpekhlua, but the Oilmen would level terms in the 90th minute through Kamal Thapa.


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