Kochi/Manjeri: A misfiring United Sports Club handed Churchill Brothers a 2-1 victory in the opening Group B match of the 35th Federation Cup football championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.
The Kolkata outfit squandered as many as four serious late chances in front of goal as first half goals from Abdelhamid Shabana and Balwant Singh gave Churchill a much needed boost in their bid to revive a disappointing season and stay in pursuit of some much-coveted silverware.
Nigerian striker Ranti Martins who is short on goals in the I-League had scored a delightful right-footer late in the first half though he soon slipped into his shadowy self in the later period.
Shabana fired up the game with his electric pace. As he probed through the middle, unchallenged, the United defence was ball watching. The Egyptian’s initial shot was saved by United’s debutant goalkeeper Jayata Paul, but he buried it in the second attempt. Balwant was released by Lenny and though he could have passed for an assist, the winger confidently rounded the keeper and made it 2-0 in the 18th minute.
Despite their hopeless defending, Ranti’s goal gave United hopes of recovery, such was the Nigerian’s craft. Eric Brown, Ranti’s roaming wide partner found him with a through ball. Though Ranit no longer sprints like in his prime he showed there is still blood in his veins with a deceptive turn and an elegant right-footed drive that Lalit Thapa had no chance of stopping.
In Manjeri, Alwyn George saved his coach Arthur Papas from an ignominious defeat as he found the equaliser and paved the way for the second goal in Dempo SC’s, 2-1, hard-fought win over second-division team Bhawanipore FC in Group D.
Playing their first match against Dempo Goa, the Kolkata side almost pulled off an upset win over the I-League side. However, substitute Alwyn George came up with a brilliant performance in the second half to give the I-league side a late upper hand and three points.
