I-League - Round 21: Air India upset Salgaocar

The twenty-first Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played between April 8 to 11 across India. The bottom three of JCT, Air India and ONGC all won putting pressure on the teams ahead of them making the relegation race more open, while Salgaocar's loss at the top allows Churchill Brothers and East Bengal close on.


Round 21 Match by Match Short Review
09-Apr-2011: ONGC 4-0 (2-0) HAL, Bangalore (in Kolhapur)
Relegation fighting ONGC scored a convincing 4-0 win against HAL in Kolhapur, their biggest victory in the I-League so far and a crucial one as well. ONGC got a 14th minute lead through a free-kick from their Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa and their in-form striker Badmus Babatunde doubled the lead in the 36th minute. After the break Kailash Patil would score twice in the 48th and 59th minute to seal a memorable victory for the Oilmen.

08-Apr-2011: Dempo SC 3-3 (2-1) Viva Kerala (in Goa)
Dempo SC needed a late goal to earn a three-all draw against Viva Kerala at the Nehru Stadium, Goa. Dempo make a quick start into the game and were 2-0 up by the eighth minute after goals from Debabrata Roy and Ranty Martins Soleye, but the Goans became complacent and allowed Viva Kerala to get back into the match when P.K. Anil Kumar scored a tap in after Subhashish Roy Chowdhury couldn't collect the ball. After the break it continued this way and Viva Kerala were suddenly equal when N.P. Pradeep scored in the 66th minute and suddenly Dempo were under pressure, who then even conceded a third through a Charles Dzisah header in the 78th minute. But Ranty Martins Soleye saved the day for Dempo's with a last minute equaliser, but still after such a great start Dempo's lost two vital points in the title race.

09-Apr-2011: JCT 1-0 (1-0) Mumbai FC (in Ludhiana)
In their fight against relegation JCT scored a crucial 1-0 win against Mumbai FC at home in Ludhiana. The Millmen where the better of the two sides on display and took an early 11th minute lead through Ajay Singh, but they couldn't score of their other chances thereafter as it ended with a lone goal win.

09-Apr-2011: East Bengal Club 2-1 (1-0) Mohun Bagan AC (in Kolkata)
East Bengal Club scored a crucial 2-1 derby win against Mohun Bagan AC at the Saltlake Stadium to keep their I-League title hopes alive. The red-and-gold took an early seventh minute lead through a Tolgay Ozbey strike though they didn't have the best of halves. After the break Mohun Bagan got a quick 48th minute equaliser from a Surkumar Singh shot which went in off a deflection. But East Bengal would go back into the lead through a Baljit Singh Sahni strike off a pass from Tolgay. It remained 2-1 until the end.

10-Apr-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 2-1 (0-1) Chirag United SC (in Goa)
Churchill Brothers SC scored a crucial comeback 2-1 win against Chirag United SC in Goa to keep their title challenge alive. The Kolkata side were the better of the two sides in action and Sunil Chhetri gave them a spectacular 29th minute lead through a bicycle kick off a Josimar da Silva Martins pass. And Chhetri could have doubled the lead before the break, but things would change thereafter. Churchill Brothers were a more organised lot and with a double strike tilted the match in their favour. First in the 61st minute Chika Wali scored into his own goal and then only four minutes later M.P. Sakeer scored the winner for the Goans.

10-Apr-2011: Indian Arrows 0-0 Pune FC (in Gurgaon)
In a mid-table clash Indian Arrows were held to a goalless draw by Pune FC in Gurgaon with both sides now on 23 points. PFC were the better of the two sides in the first session but they couldn't score of their few chances, while the Arrows came back stronger after the break with them also unable to break the deadlock.

11-Apr-2011: Salgaocar SC 0-1 (0-0) Air India (in Goa)
League leaders Salgaocar SC suffered a rare defeat against relegation fighting Air India in Goa. Salgaocar had more from the game, but unlike in earlier matches the Goans wasted their numerous chances as the Airmen mainly relied on counter attacks throughout the match. And then in the 87th minute Manjit Singh scored a surprise winner against a stunned Salgaocar.


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