Date:22/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/22/stories/2006122206412000.htm

Sport - Football

Churchill Brothers trounces Air-India

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: Churchill Brothers grounded the hopes of Air-India drubbing the latter 3-0 in the seventh pre-quarterfinal match of the Peerless 28th Federation Cup football tournament at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Thursday.

All the goals came in the first half as the Nigerian combination of George Ekeh, who scored twice, and Okolie Odafa, who opened the scoring, combined well in the Churchill attack to help the Goan team enter the quarterfinals.

The first half was all about the three goals that Churchill scored. For Air-India — playing its second tournament after the Durand Cup in Delhi — it was a story of shaky defending that allowed its opponent to score from three out of the five attacks it could bring together.

The first two goals determined the fate of the match. Odafa gained the lead with an angular shot in the sixth minute when he was released free inside the Air-India box by a flick from Ekeh. Barely a minute later, Ekeh doubled the lead. The Air-India defence faltered again letting the Nigerian striker to latch on to a square pass by Robert Lalthalamwia.

Mohun Bagan booked a quarterfinal berth, drubbing newcomer Viva Kerala 4-1 in the second match of the day. Baichung Bhutia and attacking midfielder Mehtab Hussain scored twice each for Bagan while Babatunde scored for the Kerala side.