Mahindra United pip Sporting Clube on penalties

Ludhiana, Sept 8 (UNI) Mahindra United overcome a stiff challenge from Sporting Clube de Goa by an aggregate 6-5 margin in the quarter-final match of the 29th Hero Cycles Federation Cup Football Tournament being played at the floodlit Guru Nanak Stadium here tonight.

The teams were locked one-all in the stipulated 90-minute session and 30 minutes of extra time. In the tie-breaker, Mahindra converted their penalties through Pardeep NP, Steven Dias, DS Djiaja Pierre, Manjit Singh and Surajit Bose. For Sporting Clube, Bisheshwor Singh, Nicholas Muyoti, Rajesh Meetei and Olushola Ogunadare converted their spot kicks. However, Bibiano Fernandes' spot kick was saved by Mahindra United goalkeeperSubhasish Roy Chowdhry to give Mahindra entry into semi-final.

A free kick is awarded after Mahindra United custodian collected a backpass from Goutam Debnath. Sporting Clube's Biniano Fernandes played it across the goalmouth but to no avail in the seventh minute.

Another action came two minutes later.N Rajesh Meetei sent the ball into box. Mahindra keeper Sandip Nandy and defender Harpreet Singh went for the ball. Harpreet touches the ball and corner was awarded which proved abortive.

Then Mohindra managed to forge ahead in the 28th minute. Steven Dias sent a defence-splitting cross the ball from the right to the unmarked and well-positioned Krishnan Nair Ajayan inside the box.

Ajayan was smart enough to beat Sporting Clube goalkeeper Luis Xavier Barreto.

Sporting Clube striker Boniface Ngrairah Ambani looked in a hurry as in the 44th minute he got the better of Mohinddra defender Sunil Kumar before unleashing his left footer wide. Joseph Pereira gave a fine cross to Harrmanjot Singh whose weak shot was easily collected by Mohindra keeper Sandip Nandy in the 52nd minute.

Sporting Clube de Goa were awarded a spot kick by referee Minangsu Bhattacharya i teh 75th minute when Goutam Debnath tripped Sporting striker Olushola Ogundare inside the box. Mohindra players protested against the award. Referee was pushed in the heat of the moment.

Steven Dias of Mohindra was shown yellow card. Biniano Fernandes converted the penalty to restore parity for Sporting Clube de Goa.

The regulation session ended in a one-all draw and the quarter-final match was stretched to 30 minutes of extra time.

In the 110th minute Sporting "scored" through Olushola Ogundare off a pass from Joseph Pereira. However, the referee ruled Olushola off side.

As the deadlock continued even after extra time of 30 minutes, the tie-breaker rule was applied to resolve the dispute.

Teams:- Spoting Clube de Goa: Luis Xavier Barreto, C Chandrashekhar Rao, Nicolas Muyoti, Philip Gomes, N Rajesh Meetei, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Biniano Fernandes, Micky Fernandes (Lairenjam Bisheshwor Singh), Joseph Pereira, Olushola Ogundare, Boniface Ngrairah Ambani (Freddy Mascarenhas, Cavin Lobo) Mohindra United:- Sandip Nandy (Subhashish Roy Chowdhry, Sunil Kumar, Harpreet Singh, Naduparmbil Pappachan Pradeep, Goutam Debnath, Steven Dias, Douhue Pierre, Sushanth Mathew, Krishnan Nair Ajayan, Mohd Rafi (Surajit Bose), Edson Dico Minga (Manjit Singh).

Referee:- Mianangsu Bhattacharya.

UNI