33rd Federation Cup: Md Sporting qualify

Former champions Mohammedan Sporting Club won their final Group A qualifier 1-0 against Vasco SC at the Kalyani Stadium to qualify for the 33rd Federation Cup's quarterfinal group league.

Mohammedan Sporting will now play in Group C, the group of death in this edition of the tournament, where they face local rivals and defending champions East Bengal Club, Dempo SC and Pune FC. The Group C matches will be played in Kolkata.

Mohammedan Sporting played a better game today then against Ar-Hima FC last Thursday and had most of the match under their control. But it needed a cross from Suman Dey to unintentionally float into the goal past an out of position Agnelo Noronha in the Vasco goal in the 81st minute to seal the game in Mohammedan Sporting's favour.

Mohammedan Sporting coach Aloke Mukherjee sounded jubilant after the victory. "I am very happy. But the team needs to improve," he said. "We played 55 to 60 percent of our potential. I'm happy because we have defeated the teams which defeated us last time. Our foreigners are still not fully fit and once they come into their elements the team will play much better."

"Today we played well against a quality side, but this is the beginning. The matches are going to get tougher in the next round so there is no place for complacency," Aloke Mukherjee added.