ITI leave East Bengal shell-shocked

Jackson, along with an otherwise forgettable outing, also was responsible for his side to concede the lone goal of the match. ITI striker George Ekeh, put through by Rawat, sent in a regulation cross from the left flank, but Jackson’s clearance was feeble. Rawat, who had moved along side George was present on hand to slam the ball past a hapless East Bengal custodian Naseem Akthar.

Buoyed by that success, the home side attacked with enthusiasm. A little more efficient striking combination would have helped ITI improve their margin of victory.

Midway through the first session, Kenneth Ogwah reverse passed, following a down the right flank run, and Peter set up Rawat in front of the goal mouth, but the latter’s volley was kicked away by Akthar.

After the cross over, Ekeh centred to an unmarked Rawat inside the box, but his attempt was cleared to safety by Dipak Mondal. A little later, Kenneth pulled Akthar out of his position before setting up Ekeh. The latter attempted with all his eagerness at an empty goal, but Jackson seemed to appear from nowhere to effect a smart goal-line save.

East Bengal’s only worthwhile chance came in the 25th minute, off a long ranger, with skipper Bijen Singh’s scorching 30-yard drive beating ITI goalkeeper Balaji all ends up, but unfortunately rebounding from the cross piece.

Suley Musah strove hard switching flanks time and again to keep the ITI defence on its toes, but with little support from his colleagues and against a stoic rival defence, his lone battle was a losing one.

The teams now take a long break with the next phase of the League scheduled to start only in the last week of January, after the Millennium Cup.

SBT hold Churchill
MARGAO: Inept shooting by Churchill Brothers strikers was their undoing as they were held to a goalless draw by State Bank of Travancore hereon Tuesday.

Churchill Brothers, who lost to Vasco 1-0 due to poor finishing by their strikers, were once again found wanting as they lacked the finishing touches after they had several scoring chances.

Having missed three close chances, Francis Silveira was replaced in the second half by Abhishek Yadav.

Silveira, who could have opened the account in the fifth minute when he was put through by Edson Crasto inside the box but his shot was blocked by SBT keeper Feroz Sherief, charging out to foil him.

Churchill controlled the midfield with Andre Requena masterminding most of the moves.

Churchill, who probed more often into the rival half, had the best chance to forge ahead midway into the first half when a lob from Requena found Silveira open inside the box but his weak try was saved by keeper Sherief.

Minutes later Requena again send a cross into the box from the right to Edson Carasto whose header went over.