I-League - Round 19: East Bengal go top as Churchill Bros lose

The nineteenth round of the 2012/13 I-League was played on February 1/2 across the country with 22 goals scored across seven matches as East Bengal go top of the league with 39 points, a point clear of Churchill Brothers but having played two matches more.

Churchill Brothers SC have lost their momentum as they suffered a surprise 0-1 loss to Sporting Clube de Goa in a local derby with Rovan Pereira scoring the winner in the 84th minute for the Flaming Orange.

Meanwhile East Bengal utilised their chance as they overcame Pailan Arrows 2-1 at Kalyani Stadium to go top of the league. After an early set-back through a Allwyn George goal, the red-and-gold hit back with a quick equaliser through Chidi Edeh and then a first half winner through Lalrindika Ralte.

Prayag United are closing in on the top sides with a convincing 4-1 away win to Air India as winger Vineeth C.K., who has got his first India call-up for next weeks friendly against Palestine, scored a hattrick for the Kolkata side with Ranty Martins Soleye having opened the scoring and the Airmen's Elijah Obagbemiro Junior reducing the deficit.

Bottom of the table Mohun Bagan returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win against ONGC, who are now coached by former Mariners coach Santosh Kashyap. Goals from Tolgay, Jewel Raja and Odafe won it for the green-and-maroon, but they stay bottom of the league with only five points to their name.


Round 19 Stats

01-February-2013: Sporting Clube de Goa 1-0 Churchill Brothers SC (Mapusa)
Goals: 1-0 Rovan Pereira (84')

02-February-2013: Air India 1-4 Prayag United SC (Mumbai)
Goals: 0-1 Ranty Martins Soleye (30'), 0-2,0-3,0-4 Vineeth C.K. (36',37',47'), 1-4 Elijah Obagbemiro Junior (72')

02-February-2013: Pailan Arrows 1-2 East Bengal Club (Kalyani)
Goals: 1-0 Alwyn George (2'), 1-1 Edeh Chidi (7' pen), 1-2 Lalrindika Ralte (32')

01-February-2013: Mohun Bagan AC 3-1 ONGC (Kalyani)
Goals: 1-0 Tolgay Ozbey (10'), 2-0 Jewel Raja Sheikh (63'), 3-0 Odafa Okolie (71'), 3-1 Surabuddin Mollick (83')

02-February-2013: Dempo SC 2-2 Mumbai FC (Mapusa)
Goals: 0-1,0-2 Evans Quao (40',67'), 1-2,2-2 Peter Carvalho (86',89')

02-February-2013: Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 United Sikkim FC (Shillong)
Goals: 0-1 Linekar Machedo (66'), 1-1 P.C. Lahlimthara Mahlima (81', 2-1 Taisuke Matsugae (90')

02-February-2013: Pune FC 0-2 Salgaocar SC (Pune)
Goals: 0-1,0-2 Francis Fernandes (2',45')