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Star striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie converted a penalty deep into the second half as Churchill Brothers prevailed over Mumbai FC 1-0 in their second league match of the Federation Cup football tournament in Silchar, Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Odafe scored in the 70th minute off a spot kick after Mumbai defender Kamaljeet Kumar handled the ball inside the box in a Group C match at the Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium.
With this win, Churchill now have six points from two matches. They had beaten HAL Bangalore 3-0 in their opening clash.
The I-League champions take on their Goan rivals Sporting Clube-de-Goa on Saturday, in their last group match.
Bagan held by Chirag
Defending champions Mohun Bagan failed to convert chances galore in the second session as they were held to a goal-less draw by Chirag United in their second league match of the Federation Cup football tournament in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Playing before a capacity crowd at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati, Bagan dished out attacking soccer, creating at least half a dozen chances, but poor finishing and good defence by Chirag put paid to their efforts in the Group B match.
Chirag got a couple of chances in the first session but were completely outplayed by their more fancied rivals. With this draw, Chirag are almost out of the tournament having lost their earlier match against Mahindra United 1-2 on Monday.
Mohun Bagan are now on four points from two matches and play Mahindra in their final group match on Saturday.
Sporting Clube blank HAL 2-0
Sporting Clube-de Goa blanked qualifiers HAL 2-0 to record their first win in the Federation Cup football tournament in Silchar on Wednesday.
In a Group C match at the Satindra Mohan Dev Memorial Stadium, Sporting Clube came up with an improved performance after their 1-2 loss to Mumbai FC in their first game to keep their hopes for semi-final berth alive.
HAL, who never looked like a settled side throughout the match, are out of the competition having lost both their matches.
Nathaniel Amos put Sporting in the front in the 15th minute. Striker Elijah Junior Obagbemiro scored the second goal for the Goans in the 69th minute to confirm victory.
Sporting Clube will now take on arch rivals Churchill Brothers in their final match on Saturday.
Mahindra edge Mohammedan Sporting 1-0
Mahindra United notched up their second successive win with a solitary goal victory over qualifiers Mohammedan Sporting in a Group B match of the Federation Cup football tournament in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Paresh Shivalkar scored the all-important goal in the 53rd minute to give the Mumbai side full three points at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
With six points from two matches, Mahindra are on top of Group B and they will need just a draw in their final group match against Mohun Bagan, who now have four points from two matches, to qualify for the semi-finals.The Kolkata giants, on the other hand, will need a win to advance to the last four stage.
Mohammedan Sporting are out of the tournament having lost both their matches. They lost to Mohun Bagan 1-4 in their opening match.