Two to go

New Delhi: Sporting Clube-de-Goa had the woodwork to blame as they went down to Mahindra United 3-5 in a penalty shootout in the quarter-final of the Durand Cup football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium yesterday.

Samananda Singh’s penalty kick came off the crossbar with all other efforts in the tie-breaker being on target. The result was a repeat of the one in the quarterfinals of the Federation Cup which also was decided in a similar fashion. Hundred and twenty minutes of open play saw no goal.

In the tie-breakers, Mahindra United’s NP Pradeep, Manjit Singh, Harpreet Singh, Mohammad Rafi and Ghanaian Yusuf Yakubu were successful.

Kenyan Bonface Ambani, Micky Fernandes and Bibiano Fernandes made it for Sporting with Samananda Singh missing.

As is the usual strategy, Mahindra brought on substitute keeper Subhashish Roychowdhury for the tie-breaker and the move paid dividends.

Salgaocar Through
Meanwhile, Salgaocar Sports Club beat JCT Mills (Phagwara) 2-1 to set up a semi-final encounter with Mahindra United.

Anil Kumar (seventh minute) and Shylo Malswamtlunga (31st) found the net for the Goan team while international Sunil Chettri (45+) reduced the margin for the team from Punjab.

Today’s semifinals are both Mumbai vs Goa affairs as Churchill Brothers take on Air India while Mahindra face Salgaocar.

Source: mumbaimirror.com