34th Federation Cup - Day 3: Dempo win, Sporting Clube hold East Bengal while ONGC win big

The 34th edition of the Federation Cup entered match day two for the Group A teams, while for the Group C teams it was the opening round today. In Group A, favorites Dempo SC are now top of the group after their win against Lajong FC, while in Group C Sporting Clube de Goa held favourites East Bengal Club to a draw and ONGC moved to the top of the table with a 5-1 trashing of newcomers Kalighat Milan Sangha.

Group A

Pailan Arrows 2-2 Mumbai FC – Goals: 0-1,1-2 N.D. Opara (12′,62′), 1-1 Dhanpal Ganeshan (45′), 2-2 Deepak Devrani (78′)

The Pailan Arrows came back twice in the game to draw Mumbai FC two-all for their second draw of the tournament in the 34th Federation at the Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur. It leave the Arrows in third place with two points and Mumbai FC in last with their first point of the tournament.

As in the simultaneously played match at the JRD Sports Complex, at the Keenan Stadium the heavy ground conditions forced both teams to play the aerial ball and Mumbai FC seemed to cope better initially as their Nigerian striker N.D. Opara gave them a 12th minute lead. Just when Mumbai FC looked to take their lead into half-time, Dhanpal Ganeshan equalised for the AIFF Developmental side.

After the break it was again N.D. Opara headed home the second goal in the 62nd minute, but the Arrows once more came back as in the 78th minute substitute Deepak Devrani slotted home comfortably from a Alwyn George corner.

Dempo SC 1-0 Shillong Lajong FC – Goals: 1-0 Clifford Miranda (45′)

I-League champions Dempo SC returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win through a Clifford Miranda goal against Shillong Lajong FC at the JRD Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. With the win Dempo are now top of Group A with four points and the best chances to make it into the semifinals, while Shillong Lajong FC remain on three points.

The Match was difficult for both sides due to the terrible underfoot conditions, which both teams criticized after the match. The only goal of the match came in the 45th minute when Indian international Clifford Miranda curled in a free-kick, his second of the tournament.

Group C

ONGC 5-1 Kalighat Milan Sangha – Goals: 0-1 James Giblee (15′), 1-1 Sachin Gawas (31′), 2-1,3-1 Oneyama Eke (37′,40′), 4-1,5-1 Katsumi Yusa (80′,89′)

I-League promoted ONGC from Mumbai had to go a goal down against Fed Cup newcomers Kalighat Milan Sangha before trashing the 2nd Division I-League side 5-1 at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri. With this win and the draw in the other group match ONGC are top after the first round.

Tt was the Kolkata side who took a 15th minute lead through a James Giblee goal, but thereafter the Oilmen were able to turn things around in style scoring three goals in nine minutes. First Sachin Gawas equalised in the 31st minute before new African striker Oneyama Eke scored a double in the 37th and 40th minute to give ONGC a 3-1 lead at the break.

After the break the match lost steam but ONGC would score two more towards the end of the match through their Japanese recruit Katsumi Yusa in the 80th and 89th minute.

Sporting Clube de Goa 1-1 East Bengal Club – Goals: 0-1 Chidi Edeh (9′ pen), 1-1 Victorino Fernandes (82′)

Sporting Clube de Goa held title contenders East Bengal Club to a one-all draw in their opening Group C match at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri. An early Chidi Edeh penalty was egalised by young Victorino Fernandes for the Goans towards the end.

The rains played their part in the match as the Goans took their time to settle down which East Bengal used to their advantage, then Penn Ikechukwu Orji was brought down early in the box and it was Chidi Edeh who scored from the spot following the protest of Sporting Clube players against the decision.

East Bengal continued to control things, but didn’t add another goal which brought Sporting Clube de Goa back into the match. It was Cameroonian striker Bertrand Benik Tequwa Bong who had a couple of chances before substitute Victorino Fernandes scored of a fine solo effort in the 82nd minute. Only a few minutes later Mehtab Hossain was given the marching orders for a second yellow card which dended East Bengal’s late push as the match ended in a one-all draw.