33rd Federation Cup: Opening Day full of surprises

The 33rd Federation Cup (India's version of the FA Cup) started today with the main phase. A number of surprises were in store in both Pune and Kolkata as the more famed sides often didn't get the results they would have wanted. The biggest upsets of them all was the win of newcomers Royal Wahingdoh FC against seasoned Mohun Bagan AC; while there we also surprising results in Group C, the Group of Death.


MATCHES OF THE DAY

Group A - Pune
Mohun Bagan AC 1-2 Royal Wahingdoh FC
Goals: 0-1,0-2 Chencho (49',54'), 1-2 Ashim Biswas (75')
Debutants Royal Wahingdoh FC scored a major upset by beating record champions Mohun Bagan AC 2-1 in Pune in their opening Group A match. Mohun Bagan should have gone ahead in the first session, but the green-and-maroon just couldn't score be it Jose Ramirez Barreto, Sunil Chhetri or Odafe Onyeka Okolie as the teams went into the break with the score goalless. But after the break it was initially Royal Wahingdoh FC, who scored twice in the 49th and 54th minute through Chencho and in-between Mohun Bagan were reduced to 10 men when N.P. Pradeep was send-off in the 53rd minute for a second bookable foul. The Shillong side caught the Kolkata giants totally off guard, who could only manage to pull a goal back through substitute Ashim Biswas in the 75th minute. For Carlton Chapman and his young Royal Wahingdoh side it was the biggest win on the national stage.

Group A - Pune
Churchill Brothers SC 3-1 Shillong Lajong FC
Goals: 1-0 Roberto Mendes Silva (57'), 1-1 Boithang Haokip (70'), 2-1 Henry Antchouet (71'), 3-1 N.D. Opara (87')
Churchill Brothers SC won 3-1 against Shillong Lajong FC in Pune with all their three foreigners amongst the goals. After a goalless first session Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva gave the Goans the 1-0 lead through a trademark free-kick in the 57th minute. But Lajong FC winger Boithang Haokip equalised in the 70th minute for the Shillong side, but it lasted only a minute as striker Henry Antchouet gave Churchill Brothers the lead once more and Nigerian striker N.D. Opara ensured the victory with a goal three minutes from time.

Group B - Kolkata
Dempo SC 1-2 Pune FC
Goals: 0-1 Mandjou Keita (8'), 0-2 Jeje Lalpekhlua (20'), 1-2 Joy Ferrao (89')
Pune FC upset Dempo SC 2-1 in their opening Group C match at the Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata. Pune FC were the better of the two sides in action and took an early 8th minute lead through striker Mandjou Keita, which was doubled by India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua in the 20th minute. Lester Mark Fernandez got a freak red card in the second session as he wore the jersey with the no. 25 of Ramu Srikanth instead of his own no. 22 after the break. Pune FC could have scored more as they dominated the match, but Dempo SC reduced the deficit one minute from time through Joy Ferrao.

Group B - Kolkata
East Bengal Club 1-1 Mohammedan Sporting Club
Goals: 0-1 Cyprian Stanley Okoroigwe (20'), 1-1 Sanju Pradhan (53')
Qualifiers Mohammedan Sporting Club held their more famed Kolkata rivals East Bengal Club to a one-all draw their opening Group C match in Kolkata. Mohammedan Sporting had the better start into the game with Nigerian Cyprian Stanley Okoroigwe giving them a 20th minute lead through a penalty after red-and-gold goalkeeper Sandip Nandy had brought down South Korean midfielder Han Wook for which he also collected a yellow card. In the break East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan found the right words as his team came back much stronger and got the equalised in the 53rd minute through Sanju Pradhan, but it wasn't enough for a win for the defending champions.