IMPHAL: Mohammedan Sporting Club bowed out of the 2016/17 2nd Division League as they played out a 1-1 draw against Neroca FC in the Preliminary Round Group-B encounter on Saturday.

Neroca FC needed only a point to qualify for the final round while Mohammedan SC would have gone through at Neroca FC’s expense if they had won all points. But Neroca FC did not disappoint the home crowd present at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal.

The hosts took the lead in the 29th minute through Ejiogu Chinedu Emmanuel before substitute Zikahi Leonce Dodoz restored the parity for the visitors late in the 84th minute.

The draw helped Neroca FC to top the Group B with 13 points while Mohammedan SC finish on third spot with 10 points behind Southern Samity who beat Hindustan FC 3-2 to finish second on 12 points. Neroca FC and Southern Samity made into the final round.

Going into the game Mohammedan SC coach Ranjan Chaudhury made two changes to the side that thrash Hindustan FC 6-1 last week as Rana Gharami came at the expense of Sonam Chong Sherpa while Sankar Roy replaced Sayan Roy under the bar.

Both teams started nervously trying to gauge each other’s strengths in the initial quarter of the game. But as the game progressed the hosts gradually gained control over the proceedings.

Neroca FC were rewarded for their persistent efforts when Emmanuel found back of the net to put his side ahead. Subash Singh got the ball down on the right side, cut past a couple of defenders and found space inside the box. Though his attempt on goal was palmed away by Mohammedan SC goalkeeper Sankar Roy but Emmanuel made no mistake in slotting the rebound home.

The goal stunned Mohammedan SC momentarily but the visitors did not lose hope and began attacking with intensity through Manvir Singh, Alexandre Tabillon and Vanlalbiaa Chhangte, but rivals Neroca FC managed to hold on defending deep as the first half ended 1-0.

Needing a goal, Mohammedan SC began the second half with added enthusiasm as they attacked by pushing high up, but Neroca FC had their keeper Lalit Thapa to thank after he denied Vanalalbiaa and Manvir on multiple occasions.

Mohammedan SC forward line moved with much cohesion after Dodoz entered the field in the 52nd minute replacing Lancine Toure. Neroca FC, on the other hand, looked to keep compact and hit their rivals on the counter attack.

However, the constant attacks from Mohammedan SC bore fruit in the 84th minute, when Dodoz curled in a free-kick home from outside of the box. The free-kick was awarded to the visitors after Subash brought down Vanlalbiaa.

Thereafter, Mohammedan SC battled hard towards the end looking for a winner, but Neroca FC managed to hold on defending deep as the game ended 1-1.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club came from a goal down to thrash Hindustan FC 6-1 in the Prelimanry Round Group-B fixture of the ongoing 2nd Division League at Barasat Stadium on Friday.

Vanlalbiaa Chhangte with his two goals (39th and 42nd minute), became the second highest goal scorer in the 2nd Division League, while Reisangmei Vashum (32nd), Manvir Singh (49th), Phoolchand Hembram (75th) and Sheikh Faiaz (86th) scored a goal each for the black panthers after Hindustan FC took the early lead through Khushant Chauhan (8th).

The win moved the black panthers up to second position on the table with 9 points ahead of Southern Samity’s clash against Neroca FC tomorrow.

The hosts began the game in attacking mode and created the first close chance in the 2nd minute. Vashum did well to cut in past a couple of defenders from the right but his effort narrowly missed the target.

While Mohammedan SC pressed high up, opponents Hindustan FC managed to take the lead against the run of the play at the other end. Khushant capitalised on a defensive error to beat Mohammedan SC custodian Sayon Roy from close range in the 8th minute.

Having conceded early on, Mohammedan SC began attacking with intensity with chances falling for Vanlalbiaa, Vashum and Alexandre Tabillon but the Hindustan FC defenders made sure it wasn’t going to be easy for the Mohammedan SC attackers.

After continuous pressure, Mohammedan SC got the breakthrough in the 32nd minute, when Manvir cut through couple of defenders from the right side and laid it for Vashum who made no mistake in slotting the ball into the net.

Seven minutes later the hosts doubled their advantage through Vanlalbiaa. Manvir played quick wall pass with Alexandre before releasing the ball for Vanlalbiaa whose powerful shot went straight into the net with Hindustan FC keeper Mithun Samonto watching helplessly.

Mohammedan SC virtually finished off the game three minutes before the break when Vanlalbiaa guided Alexandre’s pass into to the back of the net.

Then Manvir added further insurance four minutes into the second session with a brillaint solo effort.

Meanwhile, Hindustan had a couple of good opportunities to reduce the margin but the visitors were unlucky and Mohammedan SC well at the back.

Mohammedan SC didn’t take their foot off the accelerator and continued to dominate proceedings. Phoolchand made it 5-1 for Mohammedan SC when he struck home from 25-yards out in the 75th minute.

Faiaz drilled the final nail in the coffin when he slotted a powerfull volley from Leonce Dodoz’s through ball to complete the biggest win for Mohammedan SC in 2nd Division League.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club went down fighting 0-2 to Southern Samity in their Preliminary Round Group-B fixture of the 2nd Division League at Barasat Stadium on Saturday.

Southern Samity took the lead in the first-half courtesy an Lancine Toure own-goal before Kalu Ogba doubled the advantage late in the second-half to hand Mohammedan SC their second defeat in the league.

The result saw Southern Samity remained at the top of the table with 9 points from 4 games while Mohammedan SC slipped to third spot on 6 points from 4 games.

Going into the game Mohammedan SC coach Ranjan Chaudhury  made four changes to the side that beat Hindustan FC 1-0 last week as Reisangmei Vashum, Pranit Lama and Sheikh Faiaz filled in for Atinder Mani, Nitesh Chhikara and Mumtaz Akhtar while Laldampuia Tochhong came at the expense of Dipendu Dowary, who is suffering from chickenpox.

Mohammedan SC began the game cautiously and held firm at the back in the early exchanges. After a few half chances, Mohammedan SC had a close chances around the quarter hour mark when Laldampia’s long range effort was blocked by the rival custodian Sandip Nandy.

While Mohammedan SC continued pushing forward, Manvir Singh almost gave them the lead in the 24th minute but his spectacular shot from edge of the box but it flew over the bar.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Southern Samity went ahead against the run of play when Toure scored an own goal in his attempt to clear Ronald Singh’s left sided cross in the 41st minute.

Having conceded, Mohammedan SC attacked with intensity through Leonce Dodoz and Manvir, but Southern Samity managed to hold on defending deep as the first half ended 1-0.

Mohammedan SC had a good start to the second-half and created a couple of chances early on but once again it was the finishing that was lacking.

Throughout the session, multiple chances fell for Dodoz and Manvir, but the duo weren’t able to capitalise as Southern Samity preferred to consume time and see out the game.

Midway through the second-half, Mohammedan SC introduced Vanlabiaa Chhangte and Alexandre Tabillon with seeking an equalizer.

However, it was Southern Samity who doubled their lead in the 88th minute. Kalu collected the ball from midfield and ran past a couple of defenders before slotting into the far side of the net.

Mohammedan SC threw everything they had at Southern Samity defence in the last few minutes of the game, but Southern Samity refused to submit and ended up having the last laugh.

Mohammedan SC next face Hindustan FC at the Barasat Stadium on 17th Januray.

DELHI: Mohammedan Sporting Club proved a goal too good for Hindustan FC as they notched their second victory in the ongoing 2nd Division League at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi on Sunday.

The win took Mohammedan SC on second position with 6 points, behind Southern Samity on goal difference, while Hindustan FC stay rooted to bottom spot and yet to open their account after three games.

KOLKATA: Manvir Singh and Vanlalbiaa Chhangte struck in the either halves to down Neroca FC 2-0 as Mohammedan Sporting Club grabbed their first win in the 2016/17 2nd Division League at Barasat Stadium on Friday.

The result left Mohammedan SC on second spot in the Group B with 3 points from two games, while Neroca are on third with same number of points from as many game.

Going into the game Mohammedan SC coach Ranjan Chowdhury made three changes from the side that lost to Southern Samity last weekend. While Sayan Roy replaced  Sankar Roy under the bar Atinder Mani and Dipendu Dowary came at the expenses of Vanlalbiaa and Imran Khan.

The hosts started brighter of the two sides and created a couple of close chances early on but lack of finishing in the final third denied the Black Panthers an early lead.

Leonce Dodoz was the first to go close in the 6th minute for Mohammedan SC as his effort from Pranit Lama’s cross was misdirected from close distance.

Six minutes later, Mohammedan SC surged ahead when Manvir slotted home. Latching onto a forward ball from Pranit Lama, Dowary made no mistake in passing it to Dodoz who back headed it to Manvir who put it past rival goalie Lalit Thapa.

However, Neroca FC did not lag behind as they gave good account of themselves and created a couple of moves but failed to convert them into goals.

Mohammedan SC continued to dictate terms after the change of ends and had two early chances to swell the score but Dodoz and Dowary failed in their efforts.

The hosts increased their lead in the 79th minute with some brilliant play. Chhikara’s low corss was flicked into Vanlalbiaa’s path by Manvir and the winger did well to beat Neroca keeper Lalit Thapa with a easy tap in.

Meanwhile, Neroca tried to fight their way back and carved a couple of chances towards the closing stages of the game but the Mohammedan SC defense along with their keeper Sayan proved a hard nut to crack which saw Mohammedan SC maintain their 100% win record over Neroca at home.

BARASAT: Mohammedan Sporting Club started their campaign in the 2016/17 2nd Division League with a 0-2 defeat to Southern Samity on Saturday at Barasat Stadium in Kolkata.

Ashim Biswas (31st) and Ajay Singh (71st) scored once in each session against their former employer to secure full three points for Southern Samity.

Going into the game Mohammedan SC coach Ranjan Chowdhury started with young Sankar Roy in goal. Skipper Rana Gharami partnered Lancine Toure in central defense with Nitesh Chhikara and Pranit Lama as sidebacks. Experienced Mumtaz Akhtar and Dipankar made up the midfield while Imran Khan and Vanlalbiaa operated from the flanks. Leonce Dodoz and Manvir started upfront.

Mohammedan SC started off brightly. Though the black panthers dominated possession but failed to threaten Sandip Nandy in Southern Samity’s goal during the opening exchanges.

The hosts had the first look at the rival goal in the 11th minute when Vanlalbiaa’s cross at the near post saw Manvir rise high to head the ball but the striker could not found the target.

After soaking some early pressure, Southern Samity began pushing forward and took the lead just past the half hour mark when Ashim slotted from Tirthankar Sarkar’s pass.

Having conceded, Mohammedan SC began attacking with intensity through Dodoz and Manvir but Southern Samity managed to hold on defending deep as the first half ended with the visitors leading 1-0.

Changing over, the Mohammedan SC continued to dominate proceeding but it was the lack of finishing that let the Ranjan Chowdhury-coached side down.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Southern Samity doubled their advantage as Ajay got on the scoresheet in the 71st minute capitalizing on a goalkeeping error by Sankar.

Needing goals, Mohammedan SC introduced Alexandre Tabillon replacing Toure in the later stages, but nothing turned out to be fruitful as the game ended 2-0 in favour of Southern Samity.

Mohammedan SC will host Neroca FC next on 27th January at the same venue.