TFA, SBT qualify for final round of NFL division II

Jamshedpur, Mar 12 (UNI) Despite settling for a goalless, draw local outfit Tata Fooball Academy (TFA) and State Bank of Travancore (Kerala) entered the final round of the ONGC cup second division National Football League at JRD Tata sports complex here today.

Playing the last match in the group A round robin league, TFA finished with nine points from five matches with two wins and three draws while the Kerala team earned eight points from the equal number of matches. The bankmen managed to win two matches while drawing two and losing one.

Altogether three teams will qualify to the next round from Group A. The fate of the third team will be decided in the match between the Goan outfit Churchill Brothers and Punjab Police on March 14.

Churchill collected seven points from four matches while the Policemen got six points.

Three other teams will qualify for final round from Group B matches being played in Bangalore.

Sensing the qualification to the final round was certain despite losing the match, TFA coach Ranjan Chowdhury dropped some of their frontline players and the hosts did not take any risk as the play was confined in the midfield most of the time.

Though SBT initiated few attacks in the first half but midfielder Martin John and striker Abdul Hakim squandered scoring opportunities in the 14th and 20th minutes respectively.

Despite beginning in a promising note after defeating Churchill in the inaugural match of the league, the Kolkata outfit EverReady faltered in the midway and managed to notch up only four points from four matches and was out of contention.

The IFA shield runners up will play against the minnows Shimla Young of Delhi tomorrow. The Delhi team was placed at the bottom of the league table with a solitary point.

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