ITI rallies to beat Salgaocar

MARGAO, APRIL 16. Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), Bangalore came from behind to beat former champion Salgaocar Sports Club, Goa 2- 1 to gain full three points in the fifth edition of the National Football League match at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda here today.

Kenneth Raj (64th minute) and Kenneth Ugwo (78th) found the target for ITI while Bruno Coutinho scored the lone goal for Salgaocar in the 35th minute.

With this win ITI avenged the 1-0 defeat it suffered in the first phase and moved up to eighth place with 20 points registering its fourth win, ahead of Mahindras which is in ninth place with 18 points. Salgaocar remains on 26 points.

Trailing by a goal at the breather, ITI regrouped well and fought gallantly. It almost equalised in the 48th minute but George Ekeh's header hit the crossbar and rebounded towards Kenneth Raj who missed the open chance.

ITI restored parity in the 64th minute through Kenneth Raj off a well measured pass from striker George Ekeh. Inspired by the equaliser, the visitor accelerated the pace of the game and increased the lead in the 78th minute through Kenneth Ugwo off a pass from substitute Peter.

ITI, which totally dominated the second half, could have won by a bigger margin had not a couple of good chances been wasted by Kenneth Raj and George towards the close of play.

Earlier, in an evenly balanced first half, restricted to midfield, ITI came up with a good move in the very fifth minute of play but Salgaocar's goalkeeper Juje Siddi brought off a brilliant save, fisting over a try from Altafuddin Ahmed Syed off a pass from Shafeeq.

Salgaocar shot into the lead in the 35th minute of the first half through Bruno Coutinho when Christian Okoye pounced upon the rebound off a shot from ITI's Kenneth and passed to Dennis Cabral, who in quick succession from the right flank sent a fine cross to Coutinho at the top of the box. Coutinho, after beating the ITI goalkeeper Peter Mascaranhas, neatly placed the ball into the net.

Tomorrow Churchill will meet Tollygunge Agragami.

- UNI

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