Easy for WIFA; tough for IFA

Defending champions IFA, Bengal, survived a scare before beating Jammu and Kashmir 3-2, while WIFA, Maharashtra, scored an impressive 2-0 win over Andhra Pradesh in Group I league encounters in the Under-21 National football championship, for M Dutta Ray Trophy, in Mumbai on Thursday.

The holders rallied after trailing 1-2 against a spirited J and K team. After the change of ends, the champions took control of the game and scored twice to collect full points.

Bengal shot into the lead in the 14th minute through Ashim Biswas, the striker heading home a flag-kick taken by Gaurav Biswas.

But they were shocked by the Kashmiris, who struck twice in a space of six minutes through Sheik Iqbal and Shahnaz Iqbal.

While Sheik Iqbal deflected a 30-yard free-kick by Shahnaz Iqbal in the 26th minute, Ishfaq Ahmed put J&K ahead, netting a rebound off Bengal keeper Sumantha Ghosh after Amandeep Singh tested the custodian with a quick shot.

The Bengal youngsters who seemed to run out of ideas in the first half, came to terms with their rivals in the second session. Defender Deb Kumar Sasmal scored the equaliser for Bengal by heading the corner kick from Swroop Chatterjee. Within a couple of minutes, substitute Debasis Roy headed home a measured cross from the right from S B Chakraborthy to score the match-winner.

Maharashtra proved too good for the Andhra lads as they scored once in the each half.

Nippy striker Ashish Bhoir struck in the 26th minute to put Maharashtra one-up. Mohamed Khan scored the second goal through a header after substitute Rupesh Dev made a brilliant run from the centre and found Khan at the right spot with a fine cross from the left.

In tomorrow's matches in Group II, Services clash with Goa, while Karnataka meet Manipur.

Yesterday's report

Manipur hold Goa goalless