East Bengal ground Air India, Md Sporting stun JCT in I-League

Kolkata, Feb 8 : East Bengal and Mohammadan Sporting registered comprehensive wins in their respective matches in the ONGC I-League at Yuba Bharati Kriragan (YBK) in Salt Lake here on Saturday.

East Bengal recovered from an early slump and pumped in three goals in the second-half to drub Air India 3-1, while Mohammadan Sporting scored in quick succession after the break to beat JCT 2-0 in their Round XIV encounters.

The win helped East Bengal close in on Air India with 16 points in their kitty from 14 matches, while the latter remained on 17.

Mohammadan Sporting, on the other hand, came out from the relegation zone with 13 points, just ahead of Chirag United on basis of goal difference. JCT remained on 16 points.

Much credit for grounding the Airmen belonged to East Bengal's substitute Sanju Pradhan, who replaced Jayanta Sen just before the changeover.

The medio was instrumental in the first goal as Yusif Yakubu scored in the 48th minute off Pradhan's brilliant pass.

Yakubu netted his second in 81st minute after Sunil Chhetri scored the second goal in 56th minute.

Air India had the only consolation goal through Subhash Singh two minutes before the end of regulation time.

Air India looked to score in the fourth minute from Subhas who led the attack. Otherwise quick, Subhas, failed to finish with East Bengal custodian Abhijit Mondal saving it.

They had their best chance in the 15th minute, but their skipper Chukwuma Udofia messed up a goalmouth opportunity. A jittery Bhowmick brought in Sanju, who eventually changed the course of the match.

Minutes after the changeover, the athletic Sanju broke through the Air India defence. He gave a clever pass to Yakubu, who finished it with a rightfooter, much to the joy of supporters.

The former JCT duo of Chhetri and Rennedy Singh combined well with the former holding on to the ball give East Bengal 2-0 lead.

Sanju, who was adjudged Man-of-the-Match, completed the tally.

Subash reduced the margin which resulted from a freekick in the 88th minute, but it was too late by then.