The Hindu : Sport / Football : Mahindra United posts decisive home win

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Thursday, May 05, 2005

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Mahindra United posts decisive home win

Special Correspondent

Abhishek Yadav's 75th minute strike shakes up Kingfisher East Bengal

MUMBAI: Abhishek Yadav's heading ability shook up Kingfisher East Bengal, the Mahindra United skipper's 75th minute goal turning out to be the match-winner in a National Football League match here on Wednesday.

Yadav shook off his marker to nod home a Jatin Bisht corner-kick for a decisive home win at the Cooperage.

East Bengal, playing with Baichung Bhutia — a ghost of his usual self — coming on as substitute and left-footed striker Alvito D'Cunha stretchered off, lacked the teeth to trouble the Mumbai defence where Mahesh Gawli's positional sense and overlapping ability was outstanding. Covan Lawrence came up with a goalline save to deny Bijen Singh after a shot on the move by Alvito rebounded off a crowd of legs in the goalmouth.

Fourth position

The win took Mahindra's tally to 32 and in fourth position. East Bengal remains on 40. The Mumbai side, forced to replace tireless playmaker S. Venkatesh due to injury after the breather, was rewarded with a victory for playing to strengths. Abhishek, marked in the goalmouth due to his heading ability, popped up at the right post to head home. Custodian Sangram Mukherjee and the defensive wall were unable to react fast enough despite having the international under watch.

The game, marred by frequent loss of ball possession in the midfield, picked up pace after the Mahindra goal.

East Bengal's raids created more space for the Mumbai attackers to surge forward in quick counters with one such flash move almost leading to the second goal. Substitute Hekmat Singh sliding forward in the goalmouth to deflect a low pass connected the first-time only to see the ball fly wide.

PTI reports: In Margao, Churchill Brothers' ambition of avoiding relegation suffered a severe blow as it could only salvage a 1-1 draw with JCT. JCT took the lead in the 20th minute through Harvinder Singh but Churchill fought back and equalised in the 34th minute through Marcos Pereira.

Churchill now has 22 points from 21 matches and it now needs to win its last match against Mohun Bagan to avoid relegation.

JCT, which is in sixth place, increased its tally to 28 points from 21 matches.

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