HASC go down to East Bengal

HASC had kick-started their Group A quarterfinal league campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory over Pune FC and the Bangalore champions appeared set to pull off another upset.

New Nigerian recruit, in-form striker Abdulla Hamza, put the Aircraftmen ahead in the eighth minute but the joy didn’t last too long as former JCT midfielder Penn Orji pulled things level for the Kolkata side six minutes later.

East Bengal marched 2-1 ahead when Tolgan Ozbey found the back of the net in the 34th minute. The Aircraftmen’s efforts to seek parity suffered a huge jolt when midfielder Sreekanth was shown the red card midway through the second half.  Pune FC opened their account with a comfortable 2-0 win over Air India. HASC take on Air India in the final group clash on Saturday and East Bengal will lock horns with Pune FC.

Meanwhile, a late goal from Joshimar Martins helped Chirag United hold Viva Kerala to a 2-2 draw in their second match of Group B at Tilak Maidan ground.

Results: At Cuttack: Group A: East Bengal: 2 (Penn Orji 14th, Tolgay Ozbey 34th) bt HASC: 1 (Abdulla Hamza 8th); Pune FC: 2 (Reisang Pemmi 3rd, Paresh Shivalkar 16th) bt Air India: 0.

At Goa: Group B: Viva Kerala: 2 (Sabeeth CS 35th, 53rd) drew Chirag United: 2 (Josimar da Silva Martins 45th, 88th);  SESA Football Academy: 1 (Lezly Fernandes 16th) drew Churchill

Brothers: 1 (Odafe Onyeka Okolie 2nd).

At Ludhiana: Group C: Dempo SC: 2 (Ranti Martins 14th, 79) bt AIFF XI: 0; ONGC: 2 (F Lalmuanpuia 15th, 81st) bt JCT: Ajay Singh 74th).