33rd Federation Cup: Salgaocar held, Prayag Utd win crunch tie

The 33rd Federation Cup (India's version of the FA Cup) today also started for the teams in the quarterfinal league's Group B & D with some surprising and some expected results. Things are already heating-up after the first round of matches.


MATCHES OF THE DAY

Group B - Pune
Salgaocar SC 0-0 Mumbai FC
Goals: none
I-League champions Salgaocar SC were held to a goalless draw by Mumbai FC in their opening Group B match in the Federation Cup in Pune. It was often one-way traffic with Salgaocar putting pressure on the Mumbai FC goal, but their defence held their ground with Salgaocar's Rocus Lamare and Mehrajuddin Wadoo creating a lot in midfield for their strike duo Japanese Ryuji Sueoka and Nigerian Chidi Edeh. And it was Chidi who had the best chance of the game in the second session when the ball hit the woodwork.

Group B - Pune
Pailan Arrows 1-0 HAL
Goals: 1-0 Jibon Singh (89', pen)
The newly assembled Pailan Arrows, the AIFF's developmental side in the I-League, beat Bangalore's HAL in their opening Group B encounter in the Federation Cup in Pune. The youngsters were better then there more experienced Airmen rivals, but they needed a last minute penalty to bag the three points. Striker Malswamfela was brought down in the box and Jibon Singh converted from the resultant spot-kick.

Group D - Kolkata
Prayag United SC 1-0 Chirag United Kerala
Goals: 1-0 Josimar da Silva Martins (17')
It was a highly anticipated encounter between United SC (now Prayag United) and Chirag Computers (now co-owners of Chirag United Kerala), who had parted ways over the summer. But the Kerala side were no match for their Kolkata rivals, who could only find the net once in the 17th minute when Brazilian striker Josimar da Silva Martins scored of a rebound following a Kayne Vincent free-kick which Chirag United Kerala goalkeeper Sharath K. couldn't hold on to. Prayag United had chances to win by a bigger margin, but it remained 1-0 at the end. For the win the Prayag United players were given a joint cash prize of Rs 200,000 by the Prayag Group, showing the importance of the match to the new sponsors and the club management.

Group D - Kolkata
Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 Air India
Goals: 0-1 Ezeh Nna Henry (17', pen), 1-1 Kailo Karpeh (49'), 2-1 Ogba Kalu Nnanna (63')
Sporting Clube de Goa came back from a one goal deficit to beat Air India 2-1 in their opening Group D encounter in Kolkata. The Airmen took a 17th minute lead through a Ezeh Nna Henry penalty after a rough tackle from Sporting Clube de Goa keeper Gerard D'Mello on Henry himself. Just four minutes into the second session Sporting Clube equalised through Kailo Karpeh, but Air India protested that he used his hand before scoring. The situation got out of control with Air India player roughing-up an assistant referee and threatened to leave the pitch, but things were restored and the game continued. Sporting Clube scored the winner in the 63rd minute when Ogba Kalu Nnanna curled in a long-ranger.