Baichung Sinks Mohammedan

A brace by Baichung Bhutia helped Mohun Bagan come from a goal down and eliminate Mohammedan Sporting Club of Dhaka from the 113th IFA Shield with a 3-1 win in the final group match yesterday.

The match at Barasat looked set to go into the break scoreless but it suddenly became alive when midfielder Enamul Haque Sharif put the Bangladesh professional league champions ahead after 42 minutes.

The celebration was very short lived as star striker Baichung levelled two minutes later. The Indian international then fired the Kolkata heavyweights ahead in the first minute of the stoppage time.

After two scoreless draws, Mohammedan needed to win in a bid to reach the semifinals but could not find their second goal of the competition.

It was Isfaq Ahmed who sealed Bagan's victory in the 83rd minute. Group A runners-ups Bagan will take on South Africa's Santos FC in one of the semifinals.

Churchill Brothers of Goa, meanwhile, emerged Group A champions after their 2-0 win over Kolkata Mohammedan with Kalu Ogba and Jaison Vales scoring in the second half for the I-League runners-ups at Barasat also yesterday.

Churchill, who play Mahindra United in the semifinals, had beaten Mohun Bagan 1-0 in the tournament opener.

It was a sad day for Kolkata giants East Bengal missed out when they finished bottom of the three-team Group B following a 1-1 draw with Santos at Howrah.

Unbeaten Santos won the group with four points and Mahindra runners-ups with three points that came from their 2-0 victory against East Bengal.

Churchill 2-0 Mohammedan SC Dhaka

Churchill defeated Mohammedan Sporting Club 2 - 0 yesterday, in the group A league match. The goals were scored by Kalu Ogba and Jaison Vales, who came on as a substitute in 2nd half.

Churchill dominated the match throughout and missed many chances to score. Mohammedan goalkeeper Tungshang was outstanding and saved MSC many times.

The first goal came via Ogba on 52 minutes, who scored with an opportunistic move, pushing the ball past the goalkeeper. And, with 5 minutes remaining before the final whistle, Vales scored an easy goal thanks to Mboyo, who had dribbled past 2-3 players before handing it on a plate to Vales.

Mohammedan also had a few chances, Nirapada missed two easy heading oppurtunities and Okero once got a chance inside the box but instead of moving forward, he hurriedly shot wide.

The defeat leaves MSC Dhaka with 1 point from 2 games.

Mohammedan Face Churchill Brothers

Mohammedan Sporting Club will take on Goa's Churchill Brothers in today's IFA Shield match at Howrah.

The match will kick off at 3.30pm (Bangladesh time).

Mohammedan, the Bangladesh B. League runners-ups, drew their opening match 0-0 on Thursday with Kolkata Mohammedan, who face Mohun Bagan in today's other Group A match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Churchill, I-League runners-ups, lead the group by virtue of their 1-0 win over Mohun Bagan in the opening match of the 113th edition of the prestigious competition.

Also on Thursday, defending champions Mahindra United lost to South African Premiership side Santos FC 2-0 with Tasleem Paulse scoring in the seventh and 50 minutes.

MSC Draw First IFA Match

Mohammedan Sporting Club Dhaka shared points with Kolkata Mohammedan in a goalless draw in their opening match of the 113th IFA Shield at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata yesterday.

The home side dominated the fist half but wasted three chances to take the lead.

Bangladesh professional league runners-ups Mohammedan, who had only three players of their original squad and fielded guest national players and two Moroccan recruits, bounced back on the second half but without any avail.

The visitors came close after the break when Faisal Mahmud rattled the crossbar before Nigerian striker Paul headed the ball over.

Another chance was fluffed when Kolkata Mohammedan goalie Nasir lost a cross from Hassan Al Mamun but a lurking Adil, of Morocco, placed wide.

Mohammedan will take on Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in tomorrow's match at the same venue at 3.30pm (Bangladesh time).

MSCs Clash in Kolkata

Mohammedan Sporting Clubs of Dhaka and Kolkata will clash today in both sides' opening match of the 113th ESPN IFA Shield tournament today, according to the tournament website.

The match will kick off at 3pm local time (3.30pm Bangladesh time) at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Mohammedan take on Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan on February 1 also at Salt Lake before playing their last group match against I-League runners-ups Churchill Brothers at Howrah.

The prestigious tournament, meanwhile, commenced yesterday with Churchill edging Mohun Bagan 1-0.

The other group involves East Bengal, Mahindra United and South African club Santos FC.

Bangladesh professional league runners-ups Mohammedan last time participated in the tournament in 1998 when they lost the final to East Bengal in the tiebreakers.