Mumbai champions Mahindra United and JCT Mills, Phagwara, played out a goalless draw in the an eighth round match of the eighth National Football League at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Though both the teams came up with some smart moves they failed to score.
JCT's former internationals Jo Paul Ancheri and I M Vijayan looked in good nick but were erratic and unable to make the best of the many good passes that came their way.
In the 20th minute, Mahindra forward Raphael Patron Akakpo had a clear look at the JCT goal but shot over following a pass from winger Felix Aboagye.
Following a counter attack soon after, JCT winger Stephen Abarowei failed to trap a Vijayan pass in front of an open goal.
Mahindra custodian Kalyan Chaubey came to his side's rescue in the 25th minute with a good save when he thwarted JCT defender Jagjit Randhawa's effort.
Five minutes later Mahindra medio Jules Dias Alberto got a gilt-edged chance to score but his shot went wide in front of an open goal.
Despite both the teams making three changes in the second half, neither succeeded in breaking the ice.
Vijayan came up with two fine free-kicks in the early part of the second half but they were slightly off mark.
In the middle of the second half, JCT's acrobatic custodian Mansuru Mohammad came to his team's rescue with two fine collections, first off substitute Abhishek Yadav and then Akakpo.
In the closing stages of the match, JCT came very close to scoring but medio Sukhjinder Singh shot over off substitute Manjit Singh's pass, and then Manjit himself shot wide after being put in possession by Baldeep Singh pass in front of an open goal.
© 2024 Rediff.com -