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JCT FC
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DEMPO SC
Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana
25th Feb, 2011 – 2:30 PM IST
15′ : Goal-less after 15 minutes of football. Dempo is struggling to play its natural game on the Ludhiana turf. JCT has looked more comfortable till now.
16′ : GOOOAAALLL !!! JCT draw first blood through Tajinder Singh.
22′ : Dempo come close through Ranty, JCT ‘keeper parries it away.
32′ : GOOOAAALLL !!! Dempo equalizes through Soleye.
41′ : The Goans are trying hard to take the lead but Sukhi’s famed defensive organization is holding firm.
HT :: JCT 1-1 Dempo : The scores are level as teams go into lemon break. Dempo has struggled to make any impact in the first half but has managed to grind an equalizer.
50′ : JCT came close to take the lead again but Tajinder’s shot misses the target by a whisker.
65′: JCT still holding firm against Dempo’s onslaught.
80′ : The Millmen have dished out a solid defensive display to restrict Dempo strikers to a single goal. Can they hold off Dempo for 10 more minutes and share the honors?
FT :: JCT 1-2 Dempo : A late strike from Beto ensures that Dempo pick up three crucial points. This was a win that showcased Dempo’s character and spirit. JCT are slowly moving towards relegation zone.
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CHURCHILL BROTHERS
Yuvabharati Krirangan, Kolkata
26th Feb, 2011 – 1:45 PM IST
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Team News:
Mohun Bagan: Shilton, Kingshuk, Deepak, Dhanarajan, Sagram, Rakesh, Jayanta, Snehasish, Satish, Chidi, Muritala,
Churchill Brothers: Lalit, Denzil, Gourmangi, Rowlison, Zakeer, Robert, Binish, Lenny, Dias, Boima,Vincent
1′: All set for the big match – the Kolkata vs Goa supremacy battle. Good turn-out today at the YBK. Odafa Okolie is in the team list – on the bench. Both the teams are on the pitch and here goes the referee’s whistle – the match is on.
2′: First attack by the home side. Jayanta to Dhanarajan on the left wing, Dhanarajan whips in a good cross for Muritala in the box, but the striker brings down Gourmangi Singh. Foul against Mohun Bagan.
4′: Good save! First shot on target. Steven Dias with a powerful volley, saved by Shilton for a corner. Lenny takes the flag-kick, cleared by Kingshuk Debnath.
5′: Counter attack by Bagan. Nice cross by Snehashish. Lalit Thapa, the Churchill goalie, misses the flight and could only punch the ball out to Satish. From a decent position Satish fires it wide.
7′: Chidi’s header misses the target by a whisker. Churchill sets on for a counter attack. Nice sequence of passes between Boima and Vincent, but finally cleared by Dhanarajan.
10′: Muritala fires wide and over from Satish’s pass. Bagan has been the more attacking of the two teams in first 10 minutes.
13′: Chidi shoots straight at Churchill goalkeeper Lalit and Lalit releases the ball towards Robert on an overlapping run. Robert to Vincent; Vincent to Karpeh. Karpeh shoots but Shilton is alert and makes a decent stop.
17′: After the initial burst of pace, the game seems to have settled down a bit. The score-line remains goal-less.
20′: A good attacking move by the Mariners. Jayanta and Dhanarajan combines well to send a decent ball towards Chidi inside the Churchill box, but Chidi fouls Denzil while receiving the ball and free-kick awarded to Churchill Brothers.
24′: Another attack by Bagan. They are playing as a well-oiled machine. But Churchill defense has been solid so far. No goals yet.
28′: Corner for Mohun Bagan. Collected by Lalit. Churchill sets on a counter attack. Kingshuk makes a good tackle on Karpeh.
30′: Great ball by Chidi to Muritala inside the Churchill box. But Muri fails to get hold of the ball properly and Robert clears. Half-an-hour passed by. The deadlock yet to be broken.
35′: Deepak Mondal, the rock at the back for the Mariners, makes a great tackle to deny Boima Karpeh any shooting space. Bagan goes for a counter through the left wing. Snehashish to Chidi who onceagain fires wide from a decent position.
39′: Snehashish, the lanky winger, has been lively on the left flank. He whips in another great delivery towards Muritala inside Churchill Brothers box, but Muri’s header goes out by an inch or so. That was pretty close.
42′: It has been all Mohun Bagan in the first half. Churchill hardly got any clear-cut opportunity barring a single occasion when Shilton made a good stop. Jayanta Sen fouls Boma and gets in to the referee’s book.
HT’: Here goes the half time whistle. It’s been an entertaining first half, although the dead-lock is yet to be broken. Do join us back for the second half updates.
46′: Second half gets underway at YBK. Bagan coach Subhash Bhowmick will hope that his strikers are a little less wasteful in the second half, while Vincent Subramaniam might be tempted to bring on Odafa Okolie in search of a goal.
47′: By any chance, TheHardTackle’s live commentary is followed by Vincent Subramaniam as well? Just as I predicted, Odafa Okolie has been introduced. Bagan with the first attack of the second half. Muritala’s left footer from the edge of the box goes straight to Lalit Thapa.
50′: Gourmangi makes a goal-line save. Muritala beats Lalit Thapa with a clever deft touch, the ball was on the course bhut Gourmangi makes a last ditched interventions and clears the ball from the goal-line. Close shave for Churchill Brothers.
55′: Bagan is looking more and more hungry for a goal, but somehow failed to break the dead-lock till now even though they have enjoyed unquestionable dominance in terms of ball possession and attack. The finishing problem has let them down.
60′: Murital fires wide from 18 yards out. Ball gets deflected off Gourmangi and corner for Bagan. Rakesh Masih’s header from Snehashish’s corner collected comfortably by Lalit. Substitution for Churchill – Bineesh Balan OFF; Khemtang Paite ON.
64′: Another attack by the Mariners, but Kingshuk is ruled offside. Counter attack by Churchill through Vincent, but Jayanta Sen snatches the ball from the Churchill striker and provides a delightful through ball to Satish. However all Satish could do is to smash the ball straight at Lalit. Disappointing effort by Satish, he has looked off color today.
66′: That was the last touch of the match for Satish. Asim Biswas replaces him.
68′: Odafa Okolie! Shoots just wide. Muritala fires over the cross-piece from the counter attack.
70′: Shilton saves! Paite unleashed a powerful shot from the left but Shilton is equal to the task. The score-line remains goalless.
74′: Chidi fouls Rowlison and deservedly gets booked. Around 15 minutes to go for the final whistle.
76′: Brilliantly saved by Lalit to deny Snehashish. Corner for Bagan. Wasted.
78′: Third change for Churchill. Charan Rai IN; Steven Dias OUT!
81′: Great tackle by Kingshuk on Odafa. Spot on with the timing and execution.
84′: Another attacking move by Mohun Bagan. Snehashish to Asim, asim to Muritala. Muri tried a powerful volley but Lalit Thapa makes a great stop.
88′: Even after producing one of their best performances in recent times, Mohun Bagan failed to get the break through. Lalit Thapa has been outstanding today. Sagaram Mandi did a great job for Bagan as a defensive blocker to neutralize the attacking threats of Odafa-Vincent-Karpeh.
90′: Three minutes of added time.
FT: It’s a goalless draw Kolkata. Mohun Bagan will surely rue the missed opportunities. Churchill would be happy to get one vital away point from this trip. Sagaram Mandi has been awarded the official man of the match.
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EAST BENGAL
Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Gurgaon
26th Feb, 2011 – 3:45 PM IST
Team News:
Indian Arrows: Gurpreet, Visahal, Raju, Inderpreet, Lalrozama, Akshay, Subodh, Milan,Jeje, Manandeep, Lalrindika
East Bengal: Sandip, Soumik, Gurwinder, Sunil, Vasum, Nabi, Sanju, Penn, Mehtab, Alexandro, Tolgey
1′: Crucial match for both the teams. After the disappointment against ONGC, East Bengal would be keen to get full three points against Indian Arrows to keep up the pressure on Salgaocar. A win for Arrows would propel them in to the top half of the table. In the reverse fixture played at Kolkata, East Bengal had a comfortable 4-0 victory over Indian Arrows. And here we go, the match gets kicked off at Gurgaon.
2′: No Robin Singh for East Bengal today. He has been relegated to reserve bench and the new Brazilian striker Alexander has bee drafted in to partner Tolgay Ozbey upfront. Okpara and Naoba would miss this match because of suspension. First attack by the young Arrows. Lalrindika on a sprint through the right wing gets intercepted by the outstretched left foot of Rahim Nabi. Corner for Indian Arrows.
4′: Inderpreet fouls Mehtab. Free kick for East Bengal in the midfield. Nabi delivers a teasing ball, but it was a bit too long and the ball goes out of play.
6′: Brilliant ball by Mehtab towards Tolgay. Raju Gaekwad makes a great tackle.
8′: GOOOAAALLLL!!! It’s the Arrows who take the lead. Milan Singh flicked the ball past a diving Sandip Nandy from a measured cross by Lalrindike. It’s Arrows 1-0 East Bengal at Gurgon.
11′: East Bengal trying hard to control the midfield battle. But the Arrows defenders are not allowing Mehtab and Penn to settle down by closing in quickly whenever the duo is getting the ball.
14′: Great ball towards Penn by Vasum. But the Nigerian takes one touch too many and the Arrows defense clears.
17′: Lalrindika Ralte is looking lively for the Arrows. Mehtab Hussain is the best player on the pitch for East Bengal. Arrows leading by a goal here at Gurgaon.
18′: GOOOAAAALLLL! East Bengal equalizes. Reisangmei Vasum is the man for East Bengal.
22′: An entertaining match already. The score-board reads 1-1 here at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Gurgaon.
23′: After Mehtab had set up Tolgay, Subodh clears the ball for a corner. Mehtab’s delivery from the corner calmly gathered by Gurpreet.
26′: East Bengal wins two corners in a row, the first one is wasted while Gurpreet makes a fabulous close range save off Tolgay.
30′: East Bengal is looking very dangerous, with every passing minute. Mehrab’s long-range effort is wide off the mark. The most conspicuous threat – Tolgay – is now being marked by a couple of Arrows. Can the youngsters soak all this pressure?
34′: Yellow Card. Alexendro of East Bengal duly punished for handling the ball.
36′: Sanju and Penn combine well on the right flank, and Penn shakes off his marker and releases a shot on goal. Saved by Gurpreet. The young goal-keeper is looking really sharp here in Gurgoan.
40′: Goal scorer Milan’s run cut short by Soumik, and immediately Bengal are on a counter-attack. Gurvinder Singh booked for a rough tackle on Subodh. The score is still tied at 1-1, with 5 minutes to go for the half time whistle.
44′: Bengal spurn a glorious chance to go take the lead. Tolgay delivered a perfect ball in the box, but the two onrushing Bengal players failed to connect.
HT: Half-Time here in Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Gurgaon. Indian Arrows scored first, but after East Bengal equalised, they have been on a rampage. Strangely, the score remains Indian Arrows 1-1 East Bengal.
46′: Second half commences. Substitution for Arrows – Malswamfelacame IN Manandeep OUT.
52′: Second half thus far as been uneventful, other than a miss by Tolgay. Another substitution – Akshay OUT Shilton IN.
56′: Of late, the East Bengal players have made a reputation of missing sitters. It’s Penn’s turn now as he misses a simple tap in from 10 yards out. Disappointing stuff this.
62′: Yellow Card. Shilton D Dilva, who came on 10 minutes back, booked for a rash challenge on Nabi.
64′: The score is still tied at 1-1, with East Bengal players looking increasingly frustrated.
68′: Sushil Kumar comes in place of Alexendro for East Bengal.
70′: Another substitution for East Bengal – Ravinder Singh IN Sanju OUT. Can the Kolkata outfit conjure up a winner?
75′: As we enter into the final fifteen minutes of normal time, the score is still deadlocked at 1-1. Indian Arrows have performed admirably here in Gurgoan, however, they have also benefited from the misfiring strikers of East Bengal.
80′: Vasum delivered a quality through ball from the left, however, Penn is offside.
83′: Sushil was one on one with the keeper this time, but he’s correctly ruled offside. The Arrows are happy defending and absorbing the pressure, while Bengal is wasting one opportunity after another. It’s become a game no team wants to win!
86′: Vasum unleashed a thunderbolt from just outside the box, the shot is brilliantly saved by the young goalkeeper Gurpreet.
87′: Indian Arrows 1-1 East Bengal.
FT: The match ends Indian Arrows 1-1 East Bengal. In the first leg of this fixture, East Bengal had notched up a 4-0 win, however, here they have failed to capitalise on numerous opportunities. While, the the young but sharp Arrows held their ground with aplomb. THT’s Man of the Match is none other than Indian Arrows goalkeeper Gurpreet.
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VIVA KERALA
Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
26th Feb, 2011 – 7:00 PM IST
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Catch the actions LIVE! for tonight’s Pune FC vs Viva Kerala I-League match. TheHardTackle’s correspondent Amod D. Kulkarni will be providing the live min-by-min commentary updates straight from Pune’s Balewadi Sports Complex.
For Detailed min-by-min Commentary Updates Click HERE
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CHIRAG UNITED
27th Feb, 2011 – 3:30 PM IST
10′: Goalless after 10 minutes. Neither team have been able to create clear cut chances.
7′: GOOOAAALLL !!! Subhashis puts the away team in the lead.
15′: Sunil Chhetri has made his first start for Chirag today. Can he make a difference ?
30′: Chirag United lead by a goal to nil after half an hour.
40′: Air India are trying hard to find an equaliser but to no avail.
40′: GOOOAAALLL !!! Praise makes it 1-1 !!
HT: Air India 1-1 Chirag United :: Both teams go into lemon break with a goal apiece. An exciting half of football awaits us in 2nd period.
60′: No change in the scoreline after the hour mark. Its still 1-1.
80′: Chirag is desperate to score a goal. Subrata Bhattacharya has thrown in 4 strikers together. Joshimar, Junior, Rafique and Sunil playing together.
FT : Air India 1-1 Chirag United :: This result wont help any of the teams. Air India still remain in relegation zone while Chirag are stuck in mid-table.
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MUMBAI FC
Sree Kantheerva Stadium, Bangalore
27th Feb, 2011 – 3:30 PM IST
10′: Still no goals. Both teams trying to adjust to poor pitch conditions.
20′: HAL comes close to scoring but MFC ‘keeper pulls off a good save.
30′: Play bogged down in midfield.
HT: HAL 0-0 Mumbai FC :: An unremarkable half of football ends without goals.
60′: An hour gone, still no goals.
75′: GOOOAAALLL !!! Huge goal for the Bangalore outfit. Meetei scores an invaluable goal.
FT: HAL 1-0 Mumbai FC :: HAL exact sweet revenge on Mumbai FC and collect three more points. They are steadily moving towards safety in I-League.
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ONGC FC
PJN Stadium, Margaon, Goa
27th Feb, 2011 – 3:45 PM IST
Teams:
Salgaocar – Karanjit, Jaspal, Meetei, Tomba, Yakubu, Sueoka, Govin, Sabrosa, Rocus, Francis, Gilbert.
ONGC – Rajat, Thapa, Odafe, Naskar, Tapan, Bhola, Jatin, Babatunde, Sandeep, Bose, Yusa
1′: Match kicks off. Due to arrival of summer matches in Goa are being deferred to 4 PM.
2′: Salgaocar start the match on attacking note. Yakubu finds Francis with a delicious through but latter’s touch was too heavy. Ball cleared.
10′: Both teams are trying to settle down here.
15′: Babatunde !!! A pile driver from last years 2nd division top scorer. Misses the goal by a whisker !
20′: Yakubu !!! Great work from Tomba and Sueoka on the wings, the Japanese’s cross finds Yakubu. Yakubu’s scissor’s kick flashes wide.
22′: Salgaocar attacking in waves. Rocus finds Gilberto who tries to cross to Sueoka but overhits his cross.
24′: Rocus gets a yellow card for a foul on Yatsumi.
26′: The Goan greens have been completely dominant so far.
29′: Yakubu !!!Incredible miss from the veteran striker. After a lovely one two with Sueoka, he was one on one with the GK. Shockingly he hits it wide.
32′: GOOOAAALLL !!! It’s Yakubu once again. The grand old man of Indian football makes no mistake as he slots in a cross from Gilberto. ONGC defence left him unmarked.
34′: Brilliant work from Gilbert again but he fails ro find Yakubu.
36′: Another great cross from Jaspal but Odafe makes a solid block.
40′: GOOOAAALLL !!! What a beauty !!! Salgaocar make it 2-0. Gilbert Oliviera is the scorer.
40′: Sensational passing between Sueoka and Yakubu. Yakubu finds Gilbert who blasts the ball into goal. 2-0.
HT: Salgaocar 2-0 ONGC :: Some brilliant football from Karim’s men in first half. They have shown form worthy of table toppers.
46′: Second half starts.
47′: Defensive sub for Salgaocar as Baldeep replaces Tomba.
48′: GOOOOAAAALLL !!! 3-0 to the Goan giants and the young Gilbert completes his brace. Another defence splitting move !!
50′: Penalty for Salgaocar !
50′: GOOOAAALLL !!! Sueoka makes it 4-0 for Salgaocar. Goals are pouring thick and fast in Goa.
52′: Yellow card for Sandeep Sangha.
65′: Salgaocar 4-0 ONGC. None of the teams are putting any extra effort now.
75′: The match is reduced to a tame kick about in last 10 minutes. Both teams playing at leisurely pace. Sueoka goes off Ekene come in.
82′: Another sub for the goans – Rino Anto on, Jaspal off.
84′: Sub for ONGC. Jatin off, Patel in.
86′: GOOOAAALLL !!! It’s Yakubu again. Salgaocar lead 5-0.
FT: Salgaocar 5-0 ONGC :: A flawless performance from the league leaders who rode a brilliant Yusif Yakubu brace to win this match. ONGC are looking towards relegation with every passing game. Young Gilberto Olivera performed heroically for Salgaocar scoring two goals and assisting one.