I-League - Round 23: Title/Relegation race wide open

The twenty-third Round of matches of the I-League 2010/11 were played on April 22 to 25 across India. With Dempo SC beating rivals Salgaocar SC and East Bengal winning these three sides are now only two points apart in the title race, while Churchill Brothers having played two matches more are out of the title race. Elsewhere the relegation race is hotting up by the day with the bottom teams gaining more valuable points. HAL are now bottom of the league.


Round 23 Match by Match Short Review
22-Apr-2011: East Bengal Club 3-0 (3-0) Viva Kerala (in Kolkata)
East Bengal Club returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win against Viva Kerala at the Saltlake Stadium. With this win the red-and-gold are now on 44 points from 21 matches and are back in the title race, while Viva Kerala remain on 22 points from 23 matches and in danger of relegation.
The Kolkata side after initially having problems with their guests scored two quick goals to take control of the match. First a Syed Rahim Nabi solo in the 17th minute was followed by a Penn Ikechukwu Orji strike only a couple of minutes later. India striker Sushil Kumar Singh made it three in the 41st minute of a header, his first goal for East Bengal. It remained this way not only at the break, but after 90 minute too.

24-Apr-2011: HAL, Bangalore 1-2 (0-1) Pune FC (in Bangalore)
A downbeat Hindustan Aeronautics Limited who have to cope with the dead of their reserve goalkeeper Arun Kumar suffered another setback by losing 1-2 against Pune FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Pune FC moved into fifth place with now 29 points from 22 matches, while HAL dropped to the bottom of the table with only 20 points from 23 matches.
HAL have only themselves to blame as the Airmen wasted numerous chances throughout the match. PFC took a 42nd minute lead through a well placed shot from Lester Fernandes, while Mandjou Keita would double the lead in the 52nd minute with both goals coming of passes from seasoned Shanmugam Venkatesh. HAL did reduce the deficit through R.C. Prakash in the 63rd minute, but thereafter they couldn't get on the score-sheet anymore.

23-Apr-2011: Air India 2-2 (1-1) Churchill Brothers SC (in Kolhapur)
A late equaliser for Air India earned them a hard fought 2-2 against Churchill Brothers SC in Kolhapur. The Airmen moves to 21 points from 23 matches, while the draw has evaporated the little title chance that Churchill Brothers had going into the match as the Goans now have 44 points from 23 matches with the other title contenders having played two matches less.
Air India took the lead through Okorogor Nnabuike Praise in the 15th minute with Odafe Onyeka Okolie equalising only a couple of minutes later. It stayed one-all at the break, but only three minutes into the second session T. Bineesh Balan gave the Goans the lead and they were denied all three points through another O.N. Praise goal in injury time while Air India were happy about the point in their fight against relegation.

24-Apr-2011: JCT 2-0 (0-0) Indian Arrows (in Ludhiana)
JCT scored a vital 2-0 win against the Indian Arrows in Ludhiana to keep their fight for survival alive. The Phagwara Millmen moved to 20 points from 21 matches, while the Arrows remain on 23 points from 22 games.
After an action packed goalless first session JCT took the lead in the 70th minute through a Badru Keke Ibrahim strike and substitute Sakatar Singh would ensure victory with a second a minute from time.

24-Apr-2011: Mohun Bagan AC 1-2 (1-0) ONGC (in Kolkata)
Debutants ONGC scored a 2-1 comeback win against seasoned Mohun Bagan AC at the Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata. The Oilmen moved out of the relegation spots with 21 points from 23 matches, while Mohun Bagan stay on 27 points from 22 matches.
Mohun Bagan took an early fourth minute lead through a typical Surkumar Singh long-ranger, but that was nearly all that the green-and-maroon put together as ONGC didn't look to bother them in the first session. After the break things changed, but it needed goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee not being able to clear a back pass which allowed substitute Kailash Patel to equalise in the 79th minute and only five minutes later Kailash Patel scored again with a placed shot to shock the Kolkata giants and earn three vital points for ONGC.

23-Apr-2011: Salgaocar SC 1-3 (1-2) Dempo SC (in Goa)
League leaders Salgaocar SC suffered a 1-3 loss against defending champions Dempo SC in a Goan I-League derby which has opened up the title race. Salgaocar remain on 46 points from 21 matches, while Dempo move to 44 points from the same number of games.
Dempo took an early fourth minute lead through a deflected Ogba Kalu Nnanna shot following a corner. Salgaocar got back into the game and equalised through seasoned Yakubu Yusif in the 31st minute, but two minutes before the break Roberto Mendes Silva and Ranty Martins Soleye would combine with Ranty giving Dempo a 2-1 half-time lead. After the break Salgaocar attacked the Dempo in search of the equaliser, but Dempo would seal the game in the 85th minute through a placed Roberto Mendes Silva shot passed Karanjit Singh in goal.

25-Apr-2011: Mumbai FC 0-0 Chirag United SC (in Kolhapur)
Mumbai FC and Chirag United SC played out a goalless draw in Kolhapur. Mumbai FC move to 29 points from 21 matches, while Chirag United now have 26 points from 22 matches.
Both sides had their chances, but their strikers simply couldn't score on this day and with both teams rather secure in the middle of nowhere there wasn't an urge to score and win.


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