NEROCA DOWN AIZAWL, STAY ON MINERVA’S HEELS

Aizawl, Jan. 20: Neroca FC rode on Nedo Turkovic’s late strike to register a come- from- behind 2- 1 victory over defending champions Aizawl FC in a thrilling I- League match here on Saturday.

Turkovic headed home the match- winner in the 85th minute after Felix Chidi ( 65th) had cancelled out Aizwal defender Kareem Omolaja’s 39th minute strike.

With the win, the hosts leapfrogged East Bengal in the league table to take second place with 21 points from 10 matches. Minerva Punjab lead the standings with 22 points after nine matches.

Omolaja scored his first goal of the tournament, giving Aizawl a headstart. Chidi scored the equaliser in the 65th minute after a wonderful team effort broke the Aizawl defence.

Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, Turkovic scored, heading home a David Biakzara’s cross from the left wing. Aizawl host Mohun Bagan in their next game on January 25 while Neroca play Shillong Lajong on January 24 in Imphal.

GOKULAM PIP CHENNAI

In Coimbatore, Santu Singh’s 60th minute free- kick handed Gokulam Kerala a 1- 0 victory over Chennai City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Despite the victory, Gokulam stayed at the bottom with seven points from 10 matches while Chennai remained eighth with nine points after 11 outings.

In Kolkata, East Bengal will look to avenge last month’s defeat when they face a beleaguered Mohun Bagan in the return leg I- League derby football fixture on Sunday.

Former champions Bagan, who began on a high beating East Bengal in the first leg, have problems aplenty. They won by a solitary goal against their arch- rivals on December 3 last but since then they have slumped to sixth in the table and parted with I- League winning coach Sanjoy Sen.

Eyeing a maiden I- League title, East Bengal have not lost since their reversal in the first leg and they will start as favourites.