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I-League Round 14 Round-Up: Opposites Attract And Same Old Same Old!
Goal.com summarizes all the football action in India’s topmost league’s round 14…
10-Feb-2009 7:00:18 PM
I am not
writing another book on how and why opposites attract or on the different
nuances (read nonsense!) of a relationship. ‘Cuz opposites attract, and you
know it ain’t fiction just a natural fact,’ sang Paula Abdul. She won the
American Idol and is also one of the judges on the show. That gives me enough
reasons to use her sentence as authoritative. You know anything ‘American’
sells!
Back to football and it was a great week for Kolkata fans as three of the four clubs from the City of Joy won their matches, a feat which has occurred only for the second time in the league this season.
Why opposites attract? Round 13 was bad for Kolkata clubs as three of the four clubs lost their games but have turned the tables in the last round. I used opposites attract instead of one of ‘stark contrast’ words as love is in the air. The numbers –three and one have swapped the wins and losses. I am not a numerologist but…Valentines Day is just around the corner friends!
If you turn your attention to Goa, like last week only one club from the western state managed a victory. Same Old Same Old…
Round 14 action started with the Mumbai derby. There were some half chances and not much created from the open play with the best move being the Steven Dias header which hit Kamaljeet’s arm inside the box. It was seen by everyone except the linesman, which annoyed Mahindra coach Derrick Pereira rightly.
There were some guilty misses from inside the box. Felix Aboagye twice put the ball over the bar from five yards out. Mumbai FC’s hope of progressing up in the ladder didn’t materialize while Mahindra United would wonder as to why they can’t manage to score despite having more possession.
Dempo SC have also gone Mahindra United’s way off-late – conceding silly goals and not scoring upfront despite dominating the game. In the four games they have played in the New Year, the Goan side have played well. They have hit the woodwork several times, missed chances from a few yards out and a missed penalty was added to the illustrious list in the last game. The defending champions came back twice to deny Vasco any joy on Sunday.
Dempo now find themselves eleven points off the pace and their title hopes are all but over especially with the increasing number of players in the treatment room.
Vasco coach Elvis Goes had mentioned that the winter break has done a lot of good for his side. ‘One must judge things by their end result,’ and this certainly holds true in this case. The Goan side are putting in some solid displays which has suddenly made everyone take notice of them. So much so that East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick mentioned that their next game against Vasco will be a ‘tough’ one!
If they continue this form in the remaining games, they might avoid going down into the second division. But it won’t be easy as fellow relegation battler Mohammedan Sporting registered their third victory in the league over JCT. The hero of the day was a certain player who was just about to be changed until he scored – Jothi Kumar. The left winger has been in good touch and often has been the saviour of the Kolkata side. They have some tough games ahead and their players are already boasting of their revival. Can it happen? Looks difficult…
JCT’s away record has been dismal this season. Except for the 2-1 victory over Dempo in the opening round, they have failed to win any of their away games. For this very reason, they now find themselves in the ninth spot with only 16 points. They have a good bunch of youngsters but the lack of experience has killed them. Though the team is lurking near the danger zone, it’s known that the side has enough quality to save themselves especially in the home matches.
One team which has been literally throwing away matches in the second phase of the I-League has been Air India. In each of the three matches, they have put in some commendable first half performances but their second sessions have been equally worse. They had their moments against East Bengal but failed to make the most of it. They were defensively exposed with the pace of Sanju Pradhan, something one expected them to contend with considering that the winger is a former Air India player.
Coach Bimal Ghosh blamed Mohun Bagan and East Bengal of foul play for having approached some of their players before the game. Maybe it’s time that the team realises that they haven’t played well and lost.
East Bengal camp would heave s sigh of relief for having won their first game under Subhash Bhowmick. It was not one of the great games but there was some good wing play on offer with Sanju Pradhan and Renedy Singh providing the balls. The Red and Gold’s are on seventh spot and have a ‘tough’ game against Vasco! The fitness level of most of their players is questionable and their defence still looks shaky.
Churchill Brothers have closed the gap at the top as they won in style against Chirag United. Felix Chmaokwu didn’t make Odafa Okolie’s absence felt as he scored a fine brace with Kalu Nnanna adding another in the 3-0 victory. The Goan side have lost just once in the season which goes to show the confidence in the squad.
Chirag United look all set to go down unless they manage to win a few games. Coach Subrata Bhattacharya mentioned that their next game against Air India is crucial and that he has a plan. Maybe it's high time that one actually gets to see what the plan, if there is one!
Save the best for the last. Desserts are served at the end. Mohun Bagan have now claimed the top spot for themselves and have the title’s destiny in their own hands. Coach Karim Bencherifa is busy breaking records with his Green and Maroon outfit. They have become the first Kolkata side to lead the table in the last four years or so. Having won nine games on a trot, they have now set a new league record.
They next face Mohammedan Sporting, a side which they haven’t beaten so far this season. Bagan have another challenge which they look more than comfortable in coming over.
Sporting have been the notorious side of the week especially with their sacking of Vishwas Gaonkar and getting in Clifford Chukuwama. They relinquished the top spot in a tactical game but are still in the title race on paper. With Chukuwama’s appointment, one would credit them if they do manage to remain in the top three.
For now, enjoy the international friendlies on offer until the I-League resumes at the weekend…
Rahul Bali.
For all the latest Goal.com news at your fingertips, point your mobile phone browser to m.goal.com, Goal.com's very own mobile news service!
Back to football and it was a great week for Kolkata fans as three of the four clubs from the City of Joy won their matches, a feat which has occurred only for the second time in the league this season.
Why opposites attract? Round 13 was bad for Kolkata clubs as three of the four clubs lost their games but have turned the tables in the last round. I used opposites attract instead of one of ‘stark contrast’ words as love is in the air. The numbers –three and one have swapped the wins and losses. I am not a numerologist but…Valentines Day is just around the corner friends!
If you turn your attention to Goa, like last week only one club from the western state managed a victory. Same Old Same Old…
Round 14 action started with the Mumbai derby. There were some half chances and not much created from the open play with the best move being the Steven Dias header which hit Kamaljeet’s arm inside the box. It was seen by everyone except the linesman, which annoyed Mahindra coach Derrick Pereira rightly.
There were some guilty misses from inside the box. Felix Aboagye twice put the ball over the bar from five yards out. Mumbai FC’s hope of progressing up in the ladder didn’t materialize while Mahindra United would wonder as to why they can’t manage to score despite having more possession.
Dempo SC have also gone Mahindra United’s way off-late – conceding silly goals and not scoring upfront despite dominating the game. In the four games they have played in the New Year, the Goan side have played well. They have hit the woodwork several times, missed chances from a few yards out and a missed penalty was added to the illustrious list in the last game. The defending champions came back twice to deny Vasco any joy on Sunday.
Dempo now find themselves eleven points off the pace and their title hopes are all but over especially with the increasing number of players in the treatment room.
Vasco coach Elvis Goes had mentioned that the winter break has done a lot of good for his side. ‘One must judge things by their end result,’ and this certainly holds true in this case. The Goan side are putting in some solid displays which has suddenly made everyone take notice of them. So much so that East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick mentioned that their next game against Vasco will be a ‘tough’ one!
If they continue this form in the remaining games, they might avoid going down into the second division. But it won’t be easy as fellow relegation battler Mohammedan Sporting registered their third victory in the league over JCT. The hero of the day was a certain player who was just about to be changed until he scored – Jothi Kumar. The left winger has been in good touch and often has been the saviour of the Kolkata side. They have some tough games ahead and their players are already boasting of their revival. Can it happen? Looks difficult…
JCT’s away record has been dismal this season. Except for the 2-1 victory over Dempo in the opening round, they have failed to win any of their away games. For this very reason, they now find themselves in the ninth spot with only 16 points. They have a good bunch of youngsters but the lack of experience has killed them. Though the team is lurking near the danger zone, it’s known that the side has enough quality to save themselves especially in the home matches.
One team which has been literally throwing away matches in the second phase of the I-League has been Air India. In each of the three matches, they have put in some commendable first half performances but their second sessions have been equally worse. They had their moments against East Bengal but failed to make the most of it. They were defensively exposed with the pace of Sanju Pradhan, something one expected them to contend with considering that the winger is a former Air India player.
Coach Bimal Ghosh blamed Mohun Bagan and East Bengal of foul play for having approached some of their players before the game. Maybe it’s time that the team realises that they haven’t played well and lost.
East Bengal camp would heave s sigh of relief for having won their first game under Subhash Bhowmick. It was not one of the great games but there was some good wing play on offer with Sanju Pradhan and Renedy Singh providing the balls. The Red and Gold’s are on seventh spot and have a ‘tough’ game against Vasco! The fitness level of most of their players is questionable and their defence still looks shaky.
Churchill Brothers have closed the gap at the top as they won in style against Chirag United. Felix Chmaokwu didn’t make Odafa Okolie’s absence felt as he scored a fine brace with Kalu Nnanna adding another in the 3-0 victory. The Goan side have lost just once in the season which goes to show the confidence in the squad.
Chirag United look all set to go down unless they manage to win a few games. Coach Subrata Bhattacharya mentioned that their next game against Air India is crucial and that he has a plan. Maybe it's high time that one actually gets to see what the plan, if there is one!
Save the best for the last. Desserts are served at the end. Mohun Bagan have now claimed the top spot for themselves and have the title’s destiny in their own hands. Coach Karim Bencherifa is busy breaking records with his Green and Maroon outfit. They have become the first Kolkata side to lead the table in the last four years or so. Having won nine games on a trot, they have now set a new league record.
They next face Mohammedan Sporting, a side which they haven’t beaten so far this season. Bagan have another challenge which they look more than comfortable in coming over.
Sporting have been the notorious side of the week especially with their sacking of Vishwas Gaonkar and getting in Clifford Chukuwama. They relinquished the top spot in a tactical game but are still in the title race on paper. With Chukuwama’s appointment, one would credit them if they do manage to remain in the top three.
For now, enjoy the international friendlies on offer until the I-League resumes at the weekend…
Rahul Bali.
For all the latest Goal.com news at your fingertips, point your mobile phone browser to m.goal.com, Goal.com's very own mobile news service!
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