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Round-14 Prediction Statistics:
Correct Predictions : 2/7
Exact Score-line : 0/7
Season’s Prediction Statistics:
Correct Predictions : 55/98
Exact Score-line : 24/98
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JCT FC
PJN Stadium, Margaon
16th Feb, 2010 – 3:45 PM IST
Odafa-less Churchill maintained their third position in the league, despite of going down to their local rivals and current champions Dempo in round fourteen Goan Derby at PJN stadium, Fatorda. This was for the first time that the former champions were not able to score in a match this season. This time the Goan Whites welcome the boys form Ludhiana at Fatorda in Round 15 and Vincent Subramaniam’s boys will look to clinch all three points from this fixture. Churchill had few shots on target during the match against Dempo, but their every effort were countered by the solid Dempo defense. The defeat leaves Vincent Subramaniam’s side just one point clear of the fourth placed Dempo SC and five points off the leaders Salgaocar. Churchill’s hitman Vincent had to be substituted just after the lemon break and might be nursing an injury for this match up. Zakeer, who had the best attempts on goal for Churchill against Dempo SC, would be our man to watch out for.
Sukhi’s side played out a goalless draw at Sree Kantheerva Stadium, Bangalore slotting the Phagwara side at tenth in the league. The inaugural champions have played out three draws in their last five matches, without a win. The system which Sukhi has deployed is inclined more towards defensive play and counter attacks. The formation seems to be working till now as JCT are four points clear of the drop zone, but the strikers need to start hitting the back of the net as JCT travel for their seventh consecutive away game, this time to Margaon. The team would be hoping to put in same gritty performance which earned the Ludhiana side single point in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Any points from this game would be welcomed by the Ludhiana boys as Churchill would look to compensate for the last rounds loss.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
MP Zakeer (Churchill Brothers), Badru Keke Ibrahim (JCT FC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Churchill Brothers1 – 1 JCT FC
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Indian Arrows
Sahu Maharaj Ground, Kohlapur
16th Feb, 2011 – 4:00 PM IST
ONGC sent tremors through the league table in last round, which led to East Bengal toppling from the summit and giving the Numero Uno spot to Salgaocar. The Institutional side from Mumbai registered their second victory of the season, as they defeated the table topping Red-&-Gold army at home by a solitary goal. The veteran Nigerian Striker Babatunde was on the score-sheet for the fourth time this season for ONGC just after the lemon break and some resolute defending in the second half bought all three points for Subrata Bhattacharya (Jr)’s side. His team would like to continue with the winning momentum as they welcome Indian Arrows at Kolhapur. The Nigerian would be our man to watch out for.
Desmond Bulpin’s side hoarded an impressive point into their kitty in the last round as the under 21 defenders put in praiseworthy performances to keep the upbeat Chirag United at bay, and eventually moved to eleventh in the league. These matches are as important as the top of the table clashes, as invaluable three points are up for grabs, for either side. The young brigade would be hoping to showcase the same mettlesome performance, as they travel to Kolhapur for this tie.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
B. Babatunde (ONGC), Jewel Raja (Indian Arrows)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
ONGC 0 – 1 Indian Arrows
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Salgaocar
Yuvabharati Krirangan, Kolkata
20th Feb, 2010 – 1:45 PM IST
High spending Durand Cup champions sprung a surprise when they managed to seal the deal with AFC Asia Cup star Sunil Chettri just before the shutdown of transfer window. Subrata Bhattacharya mentored side also managed to get the signature of South Korean Midfielder Choi Young for the rest of the season. It would be the first match in the league for these winter reinforcements, as the kolkata side welcomes the table toppers Salgaocar. The last round match was a major disappointment for Chirag as they could only manage to get a point form what was expected to be an easy win for the Durand Cup champions. Chirag is currently placed at seventh, one point off the sixth placed Mohun Bagan. It would be interesting to see how Chirag accommodate Sunil in their set up, as he would like to get on the scoring sheet as soon as possible.
Karim Bencharifa’s lads are currently at the summit of the table, after beating the hapless Viva Kerala, slotting four goals past them, eventually taking them to the top of the league on goal difference. The Ghanaian Yakubu scored a brace for the Goan Greens and goals from Japanese midfielder Sueoka and substitute striker Ekene Ikenwa paved way for a comfortable 4-0 win. The Goan side looks really impressive, undefeated in last five games in the league, as they travel to Kolkata. Karim Bencharifa would be hoping for another clinical display by his boys, as they look to maintain their top place in the league table.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Sunil Chettri (Chirag United), Y Yakubu (Salgaocar SC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Chirag United 2 – 2 Salgaocar
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HAL SC
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Mohun Bagan
Sree Kantheerva Stadium, Bangalore
20th Feb, 2011 – 3:30 PM IST
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited played a goalless stalemate at their home ground against JCT, in round fourteen, but maintained their ninth place in the league. HAL, along with JCT, Indian Arrows and Pune FC are the four teams forming a mid-table cluster who are trying to elope out of the drop zone. The side mentored by Thyagraj welcomes the kolkata giants at Sree Kantheerva Stadium, Bangalore, for their Round 15 clash. This would be the Bengaluru side’s fourth home match on the trot, as they have bagged valuable four points out of their last three games. Thyagraj might be hoping that the defense led by the Nepalese international Rohit Chand performs up to the mark, as they did in their previous two encounters, where HAL didn’t concede a single goal. The strike partnership of Abdulla Hamza and R.C. Prakash would be the one to watch out for the Bagan Defense, especially at home.
The Mariners have had an indifferent season so far, playing out a goalless draw at YBK against a revived Pune FC side in Round 14. Coach Subhas Bhowmick would surely not be pleased with third successive draw, keeping the Greens and Maroons mammoth 11 points off the leaders. The former champions have lost their way lately with goals suddenly drying out for the kolkata side. The fixture couldn’t have been set better for the former champions as they look to get back on track with a victory in Bangalore.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Xavier Vijaykumar (HAL), Chidi Edeh (Mohun Bagan)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
HAL 1 – 2 Mohun Bagan
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Air India
Jawahar Municipal Stadium, Kannur
20th Feb 2011 – 4:00 PM IST
The Neelapadda suffered their fourth loss in last five games, keeping the Kerala side at the rock bottom of the league table. Kunhikrishnan’s side have scored only once in their last five matches, letting in 9 goals on the way. Viva Kerala are prime contenders for going down this season, as coming out of the drop zone seems almost impossible, keeping in mind the remaining fixtures this season for the Kerala side. A string of victories and draws will surely let the cat loose among the pigeons, but for that to happen the team needs to show some mettle and build up some attacking moves. Viva welcome the Pilots at home this time around, and these fixtures, which are a virtual six pointers, would be the one’s which Kunhikrishnan would like his side to win, if they want to entertain any thoughts of escaping the drop this season.
The Airmen on the other hand are slotted at twelfth in the table, oscillating in and out of the drop zone, and at this moment they are out of the drop zone on the basis of goal difference. Khalid Jamil mentored side went down to their seventh defeat of the season, letting Mumbai FC score in initial minutes, after some spanking and surprising results against title contenders in the league in their last few games. The Maharashtra side is far from safe, as they look to garner all three points against down and out Viva side.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Shahinlal (Viva Kerala), Eric Mputu (Air India)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Viva Kerala 0 – 1 Air India
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PS: The match between East Bengal and Dempo SC has been rescheduled on the 15th of May because of the two club’s AFC Cup / AFC Champions League commitments. Pune FC vs Mumbai FC match has also been rescheduled on the same day as the Balewadi Sports Complex, PFC’s home ground, is in use for Team India’s Olympic Games qualifying match against Myanmar to be played on the 23rd of February.