Mahindra United move to the top

Mahindra United scored twice in the second half to get the better of bottom-placed Punjab Police 2-0 and move to the top of the table in the National Football League, at the Cooperage, in Mumbai, on Monday.

Mahindras have 19 points and displace Indian Telephone Industries on goal difference.

Punjab Police, who have just one win and nine defeats from 10 matches, will have to begin the second phase of the tournament, from February 20, with the thought of surviving in the big league.

The Mumbai champions started in lethargic fashion and rarely bothered Police custodian Satish Kumar. However, a substitution -- Venkatesh coming in for an off-colour Austin Okolo -- changed the complexion of the match. The quantum of raids immediately increased as Venkatesh fitted in the scheme of things.

The first goal by Bala Usman, in the 62nd minute, was a gem of a goal from a dead ball situation. Usman, who was fouled at the top of the box, himself blasted a curling kick, which brushed Praveen Kumar's right thigh and found the far corner of the net, with Satish Kumar caught on the wrong foot.

Within a few minutes, Venkatesh played a one-two with another substitute, Raman, and despatched a grounder past Satish Kumar for the second goal.

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