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Vijayan shines in JCT Mills' win

Margao Jan. 3 I M Vijayan's brace enabled JCT Mills Phagwara to edge out Churchill Brothers 2-1 in the seventh round of the eighth National Football League (NFL) match being played here at the Nehru Stadium Fatorda today.

For the winner, I M Vijayan was the star, finding the net in the 19th and 69th minute, while Yakubu Yusif reduced the margin for Churchill Brothers in the 85th minute.

With this win JCT registered its third win and came on level terms with Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers with 11 points each from seven outings.

Churchill today failed to combine as team with their medio Noel Wilson and Francis Afonso were completely off-colour.

In a fast pace game, the Brothers came up with a good move in the 10th minute of the first half and could have surged ahead but forward Nithin Pradhan missed an easy chance off a good pass from by Yakubu Yusif.

JCT drew first blood in the 19th minute through Vijayan, after collecting a cross by Stephen Abarowei. Vijayan dribbled past rival defender A. S. Feroze and unleashed a pile driver which found the right corner of the net.

Stung by the goal, Churchill Brothers increased the pace of its game and had a chance to level the score a minute before the breather when rival goalkeeper Mansuru Mohammad charged out to clear the ball and Rajesh Meteei, who was at the centre line and looking at the open goal took a long ranger shot from the centre but his shot sailed over the bar by whisker, depriving Churchill of an equaliser.

Churchill substituted the off-colour Nithin Pradhan with Tikken Singh 15 minutes before the breather.

After change of ends, Churchill had one more chance to equalise in the 52nd minute but a pass from Yusuf found Francis Afonso, whose shot was smartly saved by Mansuru.

Then it was the millmen, who held the upper-hand throughout the second half, and in the 59th minute, Abarawei received a beautiful pass from Jo Paul Anchery, but his shot went over the bar.

JCT had another chance to increase its lead when Sukvindeer Singh from the centre in an one to one situation unleashed a lethal shot which hit the rival defender Osusmani Hussani and went for an abortive corner.

The millmen consolidated their lead in the 69th minute through a true forward's goal by I M Vijayan. Jo Paul Anchery took a free kick, which deflected from the wall towards Vijayan, who was lurking inside the zone and he volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

Churchill was further frustrated in the 70th minute when Yakubu's long-ranger hit the goalpost and deflected into play.

Churchill reduced the margin in the 85th minute of play through a penalty kick awarded to it by referee B K Singh (Jharkhand) when JCT's Baldip Singh handled the ball in the danger zone.

Churchill's Yakubu Yusif took the spot kick and reduced the margin 2-1.— UNI

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