By IANS
Kolkata : Defending champions Mahindra United entered the final of the 113th IFA Shield, defeating Churchill Brothers in the tiebreaker 6-4 after the two teams were 1-1 at the end of regulation period of 90 and 30 minutes of extra time here Wednesday.
In the tie-breaker, Mahindra players found the target with each of their five attempts, while Churchill fell short on one when defender Govin Singh saw his attempt coming off the upright.
N.P. Pradeep, Yakubu Yusif, Manjit Singh, Harpreet Singh and Mohammad Rafi scored for Mumbai ooutfit. For Churchill Iyomi Mboyo, Thangjam Singh and Khantang Paite were on the mark.
The action in the regulation time was dull with both teams preferring defensive soccer. The first session ended barren even though Churchill, the I-league runners-up, enjoyed a greater share.
Iyomi Mboyo, Churchill’s Congolese striker worked relentlessly to break free but found himself heavily policed by Jeepmen from Mumbai. Yusif Yakubu was also heavily marked.
Mboyo used a set-piece situation to give Churchill the lead in the 71st minute. A swerving freekick by the Churchill striker beat the Mahindra custodian Subhasish Roy Chowdhury.
Mahindra hit back a minute later. Steven Dias set a measured cross for unmarked Manjit Singh, who nodded home.
Dias had two other chances in extra-time. The first attempt was saved on the goalmouth by Churchill defender Gourmangi Singh, while the second came off the upright.