Mahindra beat Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 in Federation Cup

GUWAHATI: Mahindra United notched up their second successive win with a solitary goal victory over qualifiers Mohammedan Sporting in a Group B match of the Federation Cup football tournament on Wednesday.
Paresh Shivalkar scored the all-important goal in the 53rd minute to give the Mumbai side full three points at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
With six points from two matches, Mahindra are on top of Group B and they will need just a draw in their final group match against Mohun Bagan, who now have four points from two matches, to qualify for the semi-finals.
The Kolkata giants, on the other hand, will need a win to advance to the last four stage.
Mohammedan Sporting are out of the tournament having lost both their matches. They lost to Mohun Bagan 1-4 in their opening match.
Mahindra were the deserved winners as they dominated throughout the match. India international Steven Dias had an outstanding match today after his low key show in the first match against Chirag United.
Striker Muritala Ali continued his fine form threatening the Mohammedan goal on many occasions.
In the 12th minute, Dias had a powerful shot from just outside the box, which missed the upright by a few inches.
Ten minutes later, his free-kick from outside the box hit the wall and the ball fell on Ali who, however, shot wide in a hurry.
Mahindra was, however, saved from conceding the lead by their goalkeeper Subashish Roy Chowdhury who made a brilliant save off a shot from point blank range by Mohammedan striker Theodore Sunday in the 25th minute.
Eight minutes into the second half, Paresh Shivalkar gave Mahindra the lead with a gentle tapping.
A quick passing between Sushil Singh and Ali saw the latter taking a shot which Mohammedan goalkeeper Manas Barua fumbled to hold and Shivalkar just tapped the ball in.
Mahindra survived a scare two minutes into the injury time with Sunday dodging past defender Justine Stephen but the Mohammedan striker's shot hit the side netting.