I-League - Round 20: No wins for top teams

The twenteenth round of the 2012/13 I-League was played on February 9/10 across the country with 15 goals scored across seven matches as East Bengal stay a point clear of Churchill Brothers, but having played two matches more.

Much was expected, but also feared from the seasons return I-League derby, but in the end things stayed calm on and off the field. The red-and-gold looked the mature team, having more of the ball but the green-and-maroon's Odafe had the best chance of the match as his shot hit the post in the first session. It ended goalless, which doesn't really help any of the two teams causes - title race and relegation battle.

Churchill Brothers had the chance to go further clear at the top after knowing that East Bengal had been held by Mohun Bagan to a goalless draw, but the Goans were held to a two-all draw by Prayag United SC in a high voltage match as the Red Machines are winless in three matches. They twice went ahead through Akram Moghrabi and Beto, but Ranty and Mohammed Rafique equalised for the Kolkata side.

Air India once more beat Dempo SC to move to 18 points from 17 matches as they are in 12th spot which Mohun Bagan are eyeing. The Airmen went 2-0 up in the second session through goals from Prakash Thorat and Ezeh Nna Henry with John D. Menyongar only able to reduce the deficit for the Goans.

Meanwhile in the Maha-derby between Mumbai FC and Pune FC, the away side at home PFC won 3-0 against their rivals MFC from the state capital, who use their Balewadi Sports Complex as their home ground with the Cooperage Ground still under redevelopment. Two goals from James Moga and another from new Indian international Izumi Arata made it a clear affair in the second session.

United Sikkim FC once more dropped points late, today a 90th minute winner for ONGC through Liberian Eric Brown which leaves USFC in 13th spot with only 12 points from 20 matches while the Oilmen further strengthened their position in the mid-table region.


Round 20 Stats

09-February-2013: Salgaocar SC 2-0 Shillong Lajong FC (Mapusa)
Goals: 1-0 Josimar da Silva Martins (23'), 2-0 Randeep Singh (39')

09-February-2013: Mumbai FC 0-3 Pune FC (Pune)
Goals: 0-1,0-2 James Moga (56',71'), 0-3 Izumi Arata (83')

09-February-2013: Mohun Bagan AC 0-0 East Bengal Club (Kolkata)
Goals: none

10-February-2013: Pailan Arrows 0-2 Sporting Clube de Goa (Kolkata)
Goals: 0-1 Ogba Kalu Nnanna (63'), 0-2 Victorino Fernandes (87')

10-February-2013: United Sikkim FC 0-1 ONGC (Gangtok)
Goals: 0-1 Eric Brown (90')

10-February-2013: Churchill Brothers SC 2-2 Prayag United SC (Mapusa)
Goals: 1-0 Akram Moghrabi (28'), 1-1 Ranti Martins Soleye (45+1'), 2-1 Roberto Mendes Silva (61' pen), 2-2 Mohammed Rafique (64')

10-February-2013: Air India 2-1 Dempo SC (Pune)
Goals: 1-0 Prakash Thorat (51'), 2-0 Ezeh Nna Henry (59'), 2-1 John D. Menyongar (83')