Indian Bank, Pax of Nagoa score

Indian Bank, Chennai, brightened their chances of elevation, defeating State Bank of Travancore 2-1 in a fifth round match in the Second Division National Football League (final phase) in Pondicherry on Thursday evening.

Indian Bank, who rallied back from an early goal deficit, have 13 points and are placed behind Dempo Sports Club, Goa, who have 15 points.

In another fifth round match, Pax of Nagoa, Goa, drubbed Bengal Mumbai Football Club, Mumbai 3-0 and increased their points tally to seven. BMFC have six points.

After wasting several opportunities to score, Pax found the net when Sanni Michel, who replaced an injured Bibiano, tapped the ball into the goal at the fag end of the first session.

Collecting the ball from a flag-kick, Sebastiao Endro had a shy at goal, but the ball hit the cross piece and bounced back for Sanni to shoot home.

Pax dominated the entire second session and Memino Fernendes missed a fine chance in the 55th minute when he shot over the bar.

The Goans scored again in the 60th minute when Savio Pereira found the net with an angular left footer from the right flank in the culmination of a combined move by Amaechi and Endro.

Two minutes later, Pax increased their lead when Sebastio Endro scored.

The Indian Bank-SBT match was fast-paced. SBT shot into the lead in the eighth minute when Ignatius tapped home a rebound off a defender in front of the goal.

Fourteen minutes later, Indian Bank restored parity when Kusun gave neat finishing touches to excellent work done by Imran, who ran down the flank and dodged the defenders before giving the pass.

With six minutes left for the breather, Bobby Hamilton made the score 2-1, converting a penalty kick. Referee Bhaskar pointed to the spot when keeper Purusthotaman dangerously obstructed Kusun, who was about to score from a pass from Hamilton. The custodian received an yellow card for the foul.

After change of ends, there were some good exchanges but no goal was scored.

Second Division National Football League 2001-2002 - the complete coverage