MARGAO, MARCH 4: Ace striker Philip Mensah's second half goal enabled Churchill Brothers (Goa) to hold Calcutta giants East Bengal to a 1-1 draw in the Coca Cola National Football Super League first leg match played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda here. With today's goal Mensah's total goals tally came to 10, who is the highest goal getter so far in the championship.Table toppers Churchill Brothers finished the leg 11 points from five matches while East Bengal finshied with six points from equal number of outings. The second leg will be played in Calcutta.Churchill would have won outright had they not muffed a couple of scoring chances specially in the second half after the equaliser. Churchill who played reasonably well in the earlier matches were strangly subdued today.East Bengal shot into the lead in the 23rd minute through medio Ranjan Dey with his fine curling shot from the box off a well measured pass from striker Bijen Singh.
After the change over, Churchill regrouped well and played with renewedvigour and restored parity in the 48th minute through their mercurial striker Philip Mensah, when Jose Martin failed to head in Denzil Ferao's floater. However Mensah, who was lurking inside pounced on the chance and shot in 1-1. In the very next minute Jose Martin missed a sitter off a cross from Somatai Shaiza.
Do or die for Bagan
Mohun Bagan will attempt to keep the Coca-Cola Super Six NFL race open tomorrow with victory over second-placed Salgaocar at the Nehru Stadium.Anything less than a win will make it impossible for the defending champions from Calcutta to retain their title according to coach P K Banerjee. And should East Bengal fail to win against table leaders Churchill Brothers today, Banerjee expects an NFL champion from Goa in this edition.
The going will be tough for Bagan. Reeling from two suspension-- key defender Samuel Omollo and experienced mid-fielder Satyajit Chatterjee-- and injuries to Chima Okerie in the strike force and Hemanta Dora in the last line of defence, Banerjeeknows very well it's do or die.
Nigerian defender Adebayo Badabo will move from his customary role as sweeper into Omollo's place as stopper with either Khenthang Paite or Yohan Basin, the Iraqi, stepping into Chatterjee's boots for tomorrow. They will find fine company in Amit Das, the only genuine dribbler in the country according to Banerjee, Debjit Ghosh and R P Singh in the mid-field on whom much of Bagan's hopes depend.
Okerie, it is believed feels he's fit enough to play. Coach Banerjee thinks otherwise. So in all likelihood, Jo Paul Ancheri will keep IM Vijayan company up front.
JCT Mills, Phagwara, take on FC Kochin in a match between celler teams to be played earlier.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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