JCT start campaign in style

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi

Five-time champions JCT got their Durand Cup campaign off to a flying start with an emphatic 3-1 win over Sporting Clube de Goa during their quarterfinal Group II league match at the Ambedkar Stadium on Thursday.

The Goans drew first blood in the 12th minute, when a Lavino Fernandes strike put them in-front. JCT pulled level in the 23rd minute through Baljeet Sahani. The millmen went ahead 6 minutes later through a Pavan Kumar strike.

With the result of the match still in the balance, JCT needed another goal to secure the three points and that goal came 15 minutes beforethe end. Baldeep Kumar's 75th minute strike wrapped up a fine opening encounter for the Phagwara-based club.

Earlier, TFA and Air India played out a drab goalless. After the first round in the quaterfinal JCT lead with 3 points while TFA and Air India are tied second with a point apiece.

On Friday, action gets underway in the quarterfinal Group I with Chruchill Brothers up against Mumbai FC, while Mahindra United will face Army XI.