KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club were held to a goalless draw in their final Group-A game of the U-19 IFA Shield 2017 against East Bengal at East Bengal Ground on Sunday (4 June, 2017).

Mohammedan SC were already eliminated after losing two previous matches against Pathachakra Club (2-1) and AIFF Elite Academy (4-0), while East Bengal had to win and hope for a favour from AIFF Academy in the day’s other game at Howrah, but there was to be no miracle as Pathachakra beat AIFF Academy 2-0.

The result meant Mohammedan SC (1 points) ended their campaign in fourth place behind Pathachakra (7 points), AIFF Academy (6 points) and East Bengal (2 points).

East Bengal had to weather a second half assault before Mohammedan SC ran out of energy in hot conditions, missing several chances as they won countless corners but failed to make use of them.

East Bengal started with confidence and might have had the opener in the 20th minute when Lalchhanhima missed out on a square pass from Bidyashagar Singh on the right wing.

But after the two teams broke on the half hour mark for a brief cooling break, Mohammedan SC emerged much more attacking flair and should have been ahead three minutes later when Goutam Teli was unmarked at the back post but missed his shot from just yards out.

A snap effort from Sachin Singh in the 42nd minute was also off target, as was Parwej Ali’s hard strike just before the break.

Changing over, both sides battled hard in the midfield. However, it was Mohammedan SC who had the better chances to take the lead.

Mohammedan SC kept on pushing forward and had two more close chances midway through the half, but the strike pair of Goutam and Sachin were both denied by the East Bengal custodian Sovan Biswas.

First Goutam charged up and took a crack on the target but the attempt was palmed away by the keeper in the 62nd minute. Then, Sachin was denied by a last ditch clearance after he did well to get a shot on target in the 64th minute.

In the final quarter, both sides engaged in an end-to-end battle but couldn’t break the deadlock as the game ended goalless.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club will be looking to sign off on a high when they take on East Bengal in their last Group A match of the ongoing U-19 IFA Shield 2017 at East Bengal Ground on Sunday (4 June, 2017).

Mohammedan sit bottom of the table after a frustrating opening two matches. Mohammedan’s two defeats against Pathachakra Club (2-1) and AIFF Elite Academy (4-0) mean they have no chance of progressing to the semifinals, though they will be keen to record their first win of the tournament.

Their opponents East Bengal, on the other hand, are faring only slightly better. A disappointing 2-1 loss to AIFF Academy was followed by a 2-2 draw against Pathachakra, leaving the Red and Golds with a solitary point and just a slim chance of qualifying if they can secure a big win over Mohammedan and AIFF Academy do them a favour simultaneously by beating second-placed Pathachakra, who are on four points from two matches.

“We have nothing to look forward to than a positive result in our last match against East Bengal on Sunday,” Mohammedan’s U-19 coach, Zaheer Abbas Hamza said on the eve of the clash.

“Of course the disappointment is there because we did not achieve our goal but this is a learning period where these young players need to get maximum experience. I am pleased and proud of my players for their display.

It is an opportunity for us to see how the boys would react under this difficult situation to defend the honour of the club. I want the players to play with the motivation and give our fans one last moment of joy this season,” added the former India midfielder.

Incidentally, Mohammedan and East Bengal have met nine times at this level with East Bengal claiming victory in all past encounters.

The match at East Bengal Ground will kick-off at 3:30 PM on Sunday.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club bowed out of the ongoing U-19 IFA Shield 2017 as they suffered a 0-4 defeat to AIFF Elite Academy on Thursday at Mohammedan Sporting Ground.

Naorem Roshan Singh’s (49th & 55th minute) barce and a goal each from Joysana Singh (2nd) and Lalnuntlunga (61st) sealed a convincing victory for AIFF Academy that guided them into the semifinals of the competition.

AIFF Academy set the ball rolling from the start with swift short passes holding ball possession and went ahead as early as the 2nd minute through Joysana who guided Namgyal Bhutia’s free-kick into the back of the net with a delicate touch.

Having conceded early on, Mohammedn SC began attacking with intensity through Goutam Teli, Sachin Singh and Yenten Sherpa but rivals AIFF Academy managed to hold on defending deep as the first half ended 1-0.

AIFF Academy were the better team in the second half who were dominating the possession and within four minutes into the session they made it 2-0 through Roshan.

Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC almost pulled a goal back through Roshan Tamang in the 52nd miunte but the midfielder’s effort was denied by the AIFF Academy keeper Aditya Patra on the far post.

Three minutes later, Mohammedan SC defense wilted under pressure as their citadel crumbled yet again when Roshan chipped one over from 25-yards out as Mohammedan SC keeper Syed Bin Abdul Qadir was nowhere near his goal.

Then in the 61st minute, Lalnuntlunga rounded off the tally scoring with an angular drive to complete yet another comfortable win for the reigning U-18 I-League champions.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-2 loss to Pathchakra Club when they take on AIFF Elite Academy on Thursday (1 June, 2017) in Group-A of the ongoing U-19 IFA Shield at Mohammedan Sporting Ground.

However, Mohammedan Sporting Club coach Zaheer Abbas Hamza knows it very well that the game against the reigning U-18 I-League champions won’t be a easy one.

AIFF Academy have beaten East Bengal 2-1 in the tournament opener and will also come hard to garner maximum points against Mohammedan Sporting Club, to secure their place in the semifinals.

“The game against Pathchakra was a tough one. The boys put on a decent performance. We had our chances but at the end it was our mistakes that proved costly,” said Hamza.

“It will be a difficult match against AIFF Academy and we must be very disciplined both in defense and attack in order to contain them because they are a very god side.” he added.

The last time when the two sides met it was in the 2016 U-19 IFA Shield, where Mohammedan Sporting Club suffered a 5-2 defeat to AIFF Academy.

The match at Mohammedan Sporting Ground will kick-off 3:30 PM on Thursday.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club began their campaign in Group-A of the ongoing U-19 IFA Shield 2017 with a narrow 1-2 defeat to Pathchakra Club on Sunday at Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground.

Pathchakra took the early lead in the 4th minute through Dipankar Baral and Suprotim Barik increased the tally in the 67th minute before Goutam Teli pulled a goal back for Mohammedan Sporting Club from spot in the 84th minute.

“We dominated the match but it is sad we could not take our chances. I am pleased with the rest of the performance especially the new boys but we need to work on our finishing ahead of the next match against AIFF Elite Academy on Thursday,” Mohammedan Sporting Club coach Zaheer Abbas Hamza said.

Mohammedan Sporting Club will face AIFF Elite Academy next on 1st June, 2017 at the same venue.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club to open their campaign in the U-19 IFA Shield 2017 against Pathchakra Club at Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground on Sunday, 28th May 2017.

Instituted back in 1893, the IFA Shield is the fourth oldest cup tournament in the world after the English and Scottish FA Cup’s and the Durand Cup. Since 2015, the tournament is being conducted for Under-19 teams and follows a league cum knock out format.

Mohammedan Sporting Club is clubbed in Group A along with recently crowned U-18 I-League champions AIFF Elite Academy, East Bengal and Pathchakra Club.

In Group B, last year’s winners Tata Football Academy, Minerva Punjab FC, Mohun Bagan and FC Pune City will fight it out for top two positions.

Mohammedan Sporting Club, General Secretary, Ghazal uz Zafar, said; “IFA Shield provides us an opportunity to evaluate progress of our youth players amongst the best from India and serves as a developmental curve for players both on and off the field.”

The 121st edition of the IFA Shield will kick off tomorrow when East Bengal take on AIFF Elite Academy at East Bengal Ground.

FIXTURES
28.5.2017: Mohammedan Sporting Club vs Pathchakra Club  (at Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground)
1.6.2017: Mohammedan Sporting Club vs AIFF Elite Academy (at Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground)
4.6.2017: Mohammedan Sporting Club vs East Bengal (at East Bengal Ground)