Bland start by EB, JCT upset

Sans Bhaichung Bhutia and skipper Syed Rahim Nabi, East Bengal looked out of sorts and struggled in their opening fixture of the 31st Federation Cup, against Viva Kerala. JCT completed a bad day for favourites, losing to Salgaocar later in the evening, reports Abhishek Hore.

Sans Bhaichung Bhutia and skipper Syed Rahim Nabi, East Bengal looked out of sorts and struggled in their opening fixture of the 31st Federation Cup, against Viva Kerala. JCT completed a bad day for favourites, losing to Salgaocar later in the evening.

Playing in front of an almost full Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium in the afternoon, East Bengal were certainly not lacking in support. What they did lack was thrust in the front third and creativity in the midfield. And with the trio of Renedy Singh, Govin Singh and Jeevan Singh left in Kolkata, the former champions rarely looked threatening.

Papua New Guinea striker Ruben Senyo also gave East Bengal coach Philippe de Ridder's center-backs a tough time. Viva Kerala, back in the top tier of the I-League this season, could have gone ahead but Senyo, after dribbling past a couple of defenders, ran over the ball and goalkeeper Abhra Mondal collected.

East Bengal could have scored soon after but Yusif Yakubu's scorching right-footer, off a free-kick after Subhash Singh was brought down on the edge of the 18-yard box, hit the woodwork. Yakubu, stretchered out after the match with a rib injury, was the only player from the red-and-gold brigade to have posed some problems for the Viva Kerala defence. The Ghanaian again got East Bengal close but his right-footer, off B. Beikhokhei's cross, went over the far post.

Amid East Bengal's mediocre performance, Viva Kerala skipper M. P. Sakeer found Senyo on the left who passed it to Sirajudeen but the wide right midfielder's shot was blocked by Nirmal Chhetri.

Veteran midfielder Alvito d' Cunha cut a lonely figure in the midfield most of the time barring a curling left-footer that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Surjith V.V.

Keita strike stuns JCT

Salgaocar couldn't have asked for more. The Goa team rode Mandjou Keita's header to stun favourites and former champions JCT. Salgaocar started briskly and Francis Fernandes's attempt after being fed by Keita got goalkeeper Karanjit Singh busy early.

JCT replied through Baldeep Singh, who, after darting past Keenan Almeida, fired a powerful right-footer that went over.

The only goal came when Keita headed in Manjit Singh's free-kick from the top of the box. JCT's best chance to draw level was thwarted by goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey when he brilliantly saved Penn Orji's free-kick awarded for a foul on Balwant Singh.

Salgaocar, coached by Tim Hankinson of the US, went on the defensive after the break making it even more difficult for JCT to break through.