Federation Cup: Mohd Sporting qualify for main phase

Mohammedan Sporting qualified for the main phase of the Federation Cup football tournament after defeating Goa's Vasco SC 1-0 at the Kalyani Stadium, on Monday.

Sporting, needing just a draw to make it to the main round, scored through Suman Chandra Dey, in the 81st minute.

Courtesy the victory, they topped Group A with six points from both their matches.

Vasco and Ar-Hima Club finished with a point each.

In the main phase, Mohammedan Sporting is clubbed with defending champions East Bengal, Dempo Sports Club and Pune FC in Group C.

The group, which has already been touted as the 'Group of Death', will have its matches in Kolkata.

Sporting coach Aloke Mukherjee sounded jubilant after the victory.

"I am very happy. But the team needs to improve," he said.

"We played 55 to 60 per cent of our potential. I'm happy because we have defeated the teams which defeated us last time. Our foreigners are still not fully fit and once they come into their elements the team will play much better.

"Today we played well against a quality side, but this is the beginning. The matches are going to get tougher in the next round so there is no place for complacency," he said.

For the record, Mohammedan Sporting won the Federation Cup twice -- in 1983 and 1984 -- and finished runners-up thrice -- in 1981, 1989 and 2003.