Mahinndra United shock JCT 1-0 in I-League

Ludhiana, Oct 18 (UNI) Mahindra United, Mumbai shocked JCT, Phagwara shocking 1-0 to halt the winning streak of the home team in the ONGC I-League at the Guru Nanak stadium here today.

The lone goal of the match came in the 52nd minute of play off the foot of Sukhminder Singh.

With this win, the jeepmen who were lying at the bottom of the league table opened their account with three points. The millmen with two wins and a draw in the previous games remain on seven points.

In the absence of their Brazalian striker, Eduardo D'Silva, the JCT attack lacked the punch which was their in the previous games of the League. He did not take the field due an injury sustained during a practice session.

Playing on their home turf, the Punjab outfit was clearly the superior side despite the absence of Eduardo. However full marks to Mahindra's, particularly their custodian Subhasish Chaudhary who brought off a number of saves.

The JCT strikers were all over the Mahindra half when the game commenced. They launched one raid after another but the Mahindra defence kept them at bay.

After a goalless first half, the Mumbai outfit got a corner in the 52nd minute. The corner kick taken by Sushil Kumar rebounded off a defenders leg and went to the unmarked Sukhwinder on the right side of the penaly box. Sukhwinder wasted no time and let loose a right footer past the ever reliable JCT custodian Karanjit Singh, who failed to sight the ball as it sailed into the net.

Thereafter the jeepmen fell back and defended their citadel bravely against the menacing JCT strikers Harvinder, Amandeep and Jasbir.

In the last five minutes of play, the millmen got desprate and fired at least three shots at the Mahindra goal but found Subhasish a hard nut to crack.

Amandeep of JCT was awarded the man of the match award as he led the JCT strikers in the absence of Eduardo.

UNI HS MMS1839