'First timer' TFA gets main round ticket, SESA also through
Jamshedpur, Mar 14: Tata Football Academy (TFA), which was playing in any I-league tourney after almost five years by special permission of the AIFF, today stunned stalwarts Dempo SC of Goa 2-0 to book a main round berth on the 10 day and final day of preliminary round of the sixth edition of prestigious under 20 I-league tournament being played here while SESA of Goa also entered main rounds by beating compatriot Churchill Brothers 4-2.
In another stunning result for the day Mohun Bagan of Kolkata which has already qualified for the next rounds, was defeated 1-3 by Shillong Lajong.
In the fourth 'inconsequential' match of the day last time runners up Mumbai FC defeated ONGC 3-1. Both the teams were already out of the main rounds to be played from March 16 to 24 among the top six teams (2 from each group A B C consisting of 5 teams.) on round robin league basis to decide the winner of the tourney.
In the first match Mumbai FC rode on a hattrick by Cletus Paul (43, 54 and 89 min) to beat ONGC at Gopal Maidan. ONGC reduced the margin through Prudhuvi K on the 58th minute.
In the second match played at JRD Tata Sports Complex, Mohun Bagan was handed a shock defeat by Shillong Lajong. Prohlad Roy scored on the 25th minute and gave the lead to Mohun Bagan.
The joy was cut short just before the half time through a 44 th minute equaliser by Zoding Liana. For Lajong, Lalram Munna also scored twice on the 50th and 64th min to finish the game at 3-1. With the loss Mohun Bagan finished second in their group.
The third game SESA took the lead on the 10th minute through Olvin Cardozo which was cut short by a strike by Romario Fernandes on the 18th minute from Churchill Brothers. Sesa again took the lead on the 26th minute with the help of another fine goal again from Cardozo.
In the second half Stephen Colaco of SESA also scored twice on the 80th and 83rd minute taking the scoreline to 4-1 in favor of Sesa Goa. Churchill fought hard to reduce margin but could only manage to score on the 90th minute through a close range strike from their defender Satish Singh. SESA topped group C by virtue of the victory.
The final match of the day between Tata Football Academy and Dempo witnessed some aggressive football from both the sides but eventually TFA emerged victorious 2-0. Both the teams fought hard at Gopal Maidan but an early strike from Manash Sarkar in the 9th minute gave the lead to TFA.
The match was eventually put beyond Dempo's reach when Udanta Singh scored on the 86th minute to seal it for TFA. With the victory, Tata Football Academy finished second in their group B behind East Bengal.
Main round qualifiers - Group A - Salgaocar and Pune FC, Group B - East Bengal and TFA, Group C- SESA and Mohun Bagan