I-League - Round 22: Salgaocar win, while EB & Churchill lose

The twenty-second Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on April 16, 17 & 18 across India. Salgaocar SC won a crucial derby against Churchill Brothers SC to close in on the I-League title, while closest rivals East Bengal lost to Pune FC.


Round 22 Match by Match Short Review
16-Apr-2011: Dempo SC 5-2 (3-1) Indian Arrows (in Goa)
Dempo SC scored a 5-2 win against the Indian Arrows in Goa to maintain their slim I-League title chances. The defending champions moved now to 41 points from 20 matches while the Arrows remain on 23 points from 21 matches. The Goans took a fifth minute lead through Iranian Rouhollah Samienia but only a couple of minutes later Shilton D'Silva would equalise for the Arrows. But Dempo's would hit back with strikes from Roberto Mendes Silva in the 27th and then Ranty Martins Soleye in the 44th minute. And was Rant again who would score Dempo's fourth on the hour mark, while an in-form Jeje Lalpekhlua would reduce the deficit for Arrows in the 72th minute. But Roberto Mendes Silva would seal the match in the 83rd minute through a penalty.

18-Apr-2011: Pune FC 2-1 (1-1) East Bengal Club (in Pune)
East Bengal Club suffered a major setback in their quest for the I-League title when they suffered a 1-2 loss away to Pune FC. East Bengal stay on 41 points from 20 matches, five behind league leaders Salgaocar; while Pune FC move to 26 points from 21 matches.
PFC put the Kolkata side under pressure from the start, but the red-and-gold went ahead in the 17th minute through an Uga Okpara goal after a corner, but in the 31st minute PFC equalised through a Mandjou Keita strike. After the break East Bengal had more of the ball, but former India captain Shanmugam Venkatesh would score the winner in the 63rd minute to win the game for PFC and dent East Bengal's title hopes.

16-Apr-2011: Viva Kerala 1-0 (1-0) Mumbai FC (in Kannur)
Viva Kerala continued their climb up the I-League table away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 win against Mumbai FC at home in Kannur. Viva Kerala now have 22 points from 22 matches, while Mumbai FC stay fifth with 28 points from 20 matches.
Viva Kerala was the dominant side in the game and won the match through a deserving strike from Nigerian Felix Chimaokwu.

16-Apr-2011: Chirag United SC 1-1 (1-0) Mohun Bagan AC (in Kolkata)
The small Kolkata derby between Chirag United SC and Mohun Bagan AC ended in a one-all stalemate at the Saltlake Stadium. Both sides have played 21 matches with Mohun Bagan ahead on 27 points, while Chirag United now have 25 points.
Chirag United SC took a first half lead through India striker Sunil Chhetri, who scored from the spot and it was Sunil's third goal in as many matches; while Subair Muritala Ali equalised for Mohun Bagan in the 80th minute. It wasn't the best of matches and to make matters worse the referee send three players off - Bapi Saha and Josimar da Silva Martins of Chirag United plus Mohun Bagan's Chidi Edeh.

17-Apr-2011: Churchill Brothers SC 1-2 (1-2) Salgaocar SC (in Goa)
I-League leaders Salgaocar SC took a giant step towards the title by beating Goan rivals Churchill Brothers SC 2-1 in the latter's home match, while for Churchill Brothers their title chase looks all but over. Salgaocar now have 46 points from 20 matches, while Churchill Brothers stay on 43 points but from 22 matches.
It was mostly Salgaocar in the first session, but the Churchill Brothers defence mostly stood their ground. The men in green-white took the lead in the 37th minute through a long ranger from Francis Fernandes, but only three minutes later Odafe Onyeka Okolie was brought down by Khelemba Singh in the box and Odafe went on to score from the penalty. But at the stroke of half-time Japanese 'Man of the Match' Ryuji Sueoka would score the winner of Yakubu Yusif for Salgaocar's.
But after the break the match lacked the pace and intensity of the first session and it stayed 2-1 for Salgaocar.

17-Apr-2011: ONGC 2-1 (0-1) JCT (in Kolhapur)
Promoted ONGC scored a late 2-1 comeback win against JCT in Kolhapur to further intensify the relegation battle. ONGC moved away from the bottom to be now on 18 points from 22 matches, while JCT dropped to the last place with 17 points but having played only 20 matches. Ajay Singh gave the Punjab Millmen a first half lead, but Nigerian striker Badmus Babatunde got the Oilmen a 54th minute equaliser before he would score the vital winner in injury time to give ONGC a boasting victory, while for JCT it was a late shock.

17-Apr-2011: HAL, Bangalore 1-3 (0-1) Air India (in Bangalore)
HAL suffered a 1-3 home defeat at the hands of Air India to place them just above the relegation zone. Both sides are now on 20 points from 22 matches, but the Airmen have a three goal better goal difference and suddenly HAL are in the relegation battle which they themselves would have not thought about two/three rounds ago.
The Airmen took a 39th minute lead through Nigerian striker Okorogor Nnabuike Praise. After the break Soccor Velho would score in the 63rd minute and O.N. Praise again in the 69th minute to give Air India a comfortable 3-0 lead. HAL could only reduce the deficit in injury time through a R.C. Prakash penalty after the seasoned striker was brought down.


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