Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030660032300.htm

Sport - Football

Mahindra and Santos in final

BARASAT (West BENGAL): Defending Champion Mahindra United shot out Churchill Brothers in the tiebreaker 6-4 (1-1) to ensure a berth in the final of 113th IFA Shield football here on Wednesday.

In the second semifinal South Africa’s Santos FC outpaced Mohun Bagan 4-2. The final is scheduled for Friday.

The first semifinal match saw the two teams locked 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra-time.

In the tie-breaker Mahindra players got all their shots right while Churchill fell one short when its defender Govin Singh hit the upright.

N.P. Pradeep, Yakubu Yusif, Manjit Singh, Harpreet Singh and Mohammad Rafi were successful for Mahindra. Iyomi Mboyo, Thangjam Singh and Khantang Paite scored for Churchill.

Santos dumps Bagan

In the second semifinal, South Africa’s Santos FC outpaced Mohun Bagan 4-2.

The second semifinal in complete contrast to the languid pace of the first match was fast and aggressive.

The Cape Town based team outgunned the home side relying on sheer speed. Bagan started on the offensive and earned an early chance but captain Baichung Bhutia banged his header straight to the opposition custodian Eduan Naude.

The action changed course with the visitor’s lightning counter-attacks.

Danny Bowers put Santos the lead in the 21st minute before setting up Tasleem Paulse to double the scoreline in the 40th minute.

Santos made it 3-0 in the 59th minute getting midfielder Gregory Roelf to finish another successful counter-attack.

Bhutia finally got one to reduce the margin (3-1) in the 67th minute.

Ishfaq Ahmed cut Santos’ lead even further with an angular shot in the 82nd minute (3-2).

As Bagan went all out for the equaliser, substitute Jarren Moultrie ended the hopes of the home side with a 88th minute goal (4-2). — Principal Correspondent