Mohun Bagan, JCT set up last 8 clash

Mohun Bagan edged past State Bank of Travancore 2-1 while JCT edged past Churchill Brothers 4-3 via the tie-breaker to set up a quarter-final clash in the Tata Federation Cup Football tournament in Kolkata on Sunday.

Bagan's Brazilian duo Jose Barreto and Marcos Pereira scored one goal apiece while A Saheer found the target for SBT in the fast-paced encounter at the Salt Lake stadium.

Barreto, showing signs of regaining his old magic, played a stellar role in the Bagan forward line and was instrumental in the first goal that was scored in the 20th minute.

After narrowly missing the target in the 12th minute, Barreto penetrated the rival defence by running a solo down the left, held the ball on inside the box and gently lobbed it for Marcos to head home.

The SBT youngsters, who refused to succumb to Bagan pressure early into the game, carried on frequent raids and drew level in the 34th minute.

Saheer got a neat pass from Abdul Hakkim inside the rival box, kept his cool and netted home with a left-footer past a helpless Bagan custodian Imran Khan.

With the scoreline 1-1 at the breather, it was Barreto who put Bagan into the lead as he converted a direct free-kick from just outside the box in the 55th minute.

In an earlier match, JCT, who held Churchill goalless during scheduled time and extra-time, entered the last eighth stage riding on a brilliant save by custodian Mansuru Mohammad in the penalty shoot-out.

In the tie-breaker, Jo Paul Ancheri, Jagjit Randhawa, Daljit Singh and Ram Paul converted for JCT, while Rocky Berreto, Rajesh Meetei and Harvinder Singh found the target for Churchill.