The Hindu : Sport / Football : Mahindra United beats JCT

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Mahindra United beats JCT

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Mahindra United fought for ball possession and converted chances coming its way to inflict a 3-1 defeat on Jagatjit Cotton Textiles in an action-packed ONGC Cup I-League 10th round game at the Cooperage.

The Mumbai team pulled off a home win after being a goal down, the scorers being ‘man of the match’ Andrew Mensah (2) and Douhou Pierre.

The visitor from Phagwara, leading by a seventh minute goal from Eduard DaSilva, suffered the first defeat after nine matches, yet retained the second position with 19 points. MU moves to fourth place (14 points), above Mohun Bagan on goal difference.

MU won despite missing influential Ghanaian playmaker and skipper Yusif Yakubu.

JCT went ahead from a setpiece move, a Marcos Pereira corner kick creating confusion in the defence for Eduard to hook the ball goalwards, rolling in off the crossbar.

Quick equaliser

MU neutralised the seventh minute strike in four minutes.

Mensah, a burly, speedy striker from Ghana, positioned himself ahead of the defence for a diagonal pass from Douhou, shifted the ball from right to left, turned and slotted home with a swift, low shot inside the right post.

MU coach Derrick Pereira, who questioned decisions, was asked to move out of the dugout by referee Benjamin Silva before the second half started.

Bhola Prasad, who was included later, set up Mensah’s second goal, a powerful downward header (65th).

Douhou Pierre, a long-legged striker from Ivory Coast, came up with an individual effort for the third goal.

After snatching the ball from a JCT defender, he approached the defender, then veered away to the left, shielding the ball with his body, then stabbed the ball into the net.

JCT custodian Karanjit Singh shifted on the goalline to his right to face a new point of attack, but was surprised by the power behind the strike.

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