JCT sink Mahindras

Mahindras’ coach Dereyk de Sousa offered no excuses for debacle today and the morose mood contrasted JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh’s glow of satisfaction as he spelled out his side’s revised hopes and ambitions. “We haven’t taken a look at the relegation situation but I do believe that now we can advance a slot or two,” Sukhwinder said.

Presentlysecond-last in the 10-team table, Indian Bank (Chennai), battling Mahindras to avoid relegation, are on 15 points with three games in hand. Even if Mahindras do the unthinkable by winning their remaining games against Air-India, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, the effort would only fetch 14 points.

While the malady of inept finishing undermined Mahindras, it was a lumbering defence that brought about today’s collapse. Abarowei, picking up his fourth Man of the Match Award, needed little prompting to exploit the lack of attention he received by Mahindras, scoring twice and making another goal after the Mumbai outfit did the early running.

JCT ‘keeper Arvind Kumar did his bit as usual, thwarting Herbert Philip with the game only three minutes old.

Two more chances fell to Mahindras as Hari Khadka and Philip, again, lacked resourcefulness in front of goal before JCT took the match by the scruff.

Abarowei, largely the play-maker these days, walked the ball into goal after a disheartening collapse ofMahindras central defence. Both Rehmatullah Khan and Sushanta Mazumdar were unequal to a determined run down the middle by the seasoned Nigerean who beat Rime before scoring into an open goal in the 29th minute.

Mahindras were hit again three minutes later. Emeka this time, outpaced Mazumdar after latching on to an incisive through by Abarowei and easily beat Rime with an angular shot high into the net.

It was 3-0 in the 36th minute after Jasbir on the left put Abarowei through and the Nigerean headed home with minimum of fuss.

A glimmer of a fightback from a rattled Mahindras was staved off by Arvind Kumar, blocking splendidly to deny Nepalese Khadka and Balagopal Mahajan but JCT sunk the Mumbai side’s spirits on the call of half-time.

Jasbir, active on the left again, found Emeka with a lob and the Nigerean headed in on the run past a helpless Rime.

Mahindras exemplified their tale of woe this season when Andrew Louis failed to put away a deflection off prostrate ‘keeper Arvind Kumar after RameshRazak boomed a free-kick mid-way through the second half dominated by JCT.