CHENNAI BEAT INSIPID ARROWS 2-0 TO GO ATOP POINTS TABLE

BHUBANESWAR: Chennai City FC regained pole position riding on two second half goals to beat Indian Arrows in their 15th round I-league encounter here on Friday.

Chennai drew first blood in the 71st minute through Spanish midfielder Sandro’s free-kick and concluded their game with another goal from substitute Vijay N during the stoppage time.

With this win, Chennai City FC (33 points) have now leapfrogged Real Kashmir (32) to the top of the 11-team table.

After a barren first half, Chennai City kick-started their second half, attacking at regular intervals but were unable to find the back of the net. Credit for a valiant Arrows show should also go to their goalkeeper Samik Mitra, who stood tall under bar, denying Chennai City FC, any opportunity to capitalise on errors.

MATCHES POSTPONED

KOLKATA: East Bengal’s crucial away match to Real Kashmir, scheduled in Srinagar on Sunday, has been deferred due to poor weather conditions, the club announced in a media release on Friday. Gokulam Kerala’s home match against Aizawl FC also scheduled for Sunday too has been postponed.

The news will come as a relief for East Bengal who were scheduled to play four games in 11 days beginning Thursday when they beat Neroca 2-1 at home. The schedule has been roundly criticised by East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia. Chasing maiden I-league titles, East Bengal have 28 points from 14 games while leaders Real Kashmir have 32 from 16.

According to officials of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the TRC ground in Srinagar is covered with ice and the federation wasn’t sure it would thaw in time to get the pitch match-ready.

Gokulam Kerala’s match had to be deferred because the team hasn’t been able to travel home in time after playing Real Kashmir away on Wednesday. New dates will be announced in a couple of days, said an AIFF official.east Bengal next play Shillong Lajong.