I-League Sunday Report: Chennai City FC shocks East Bengal, Lajong and Churchill Brothers play a goal-less draw

Vasco/Chennai: East Bengal's title hopes suffered a jolt after the Kolkata giants suffered a shock 1-2 defeat against minnows Chennai City FC. While Churchill Brothers failed in their bid to notch up their fourth successive win as Shillong Lajong held them to a goal-less draw in the 14th round I-League encounters on Sunday.

The loss meant that Aizawl FC with 30 points from 14 games are at pole position while East Bengal with 27 points remain second. Mohun Bagan are on 23 points having played only 12 games.

The win also helped Chennai City earn some breathing space with 13 points from 14 games now. They are currently 8th in the 10-team table.

It was K Prasanth's opportunistic strike in the second minute of stoppage time that sealed it in favour of local team.

This was a come-from-behind win for Chennai City who equalised in the 57th minute through S Nandhakumar.

East Bengal's foreign recruit Willis Plaza struck in the 42nd minute.

The winner came against the run of play when Brazilian Charles De Souza used the wide space down left to enter the 18-yard box but his shot was saved by Rehnesh but Prasanth pounced on the rebound with a neat placement.

Rehnesh was guilty of conceding the equaliser when Nandhakumar's straight shot went through his legs.

East Bengal dominated the first half with the goal coming in the 42nd minute when a surging Rahul Bheke sprinted down right flank to essay a perfect cross for Plaza to powerfully nod home beating Karanjeet Singh, who had a good time under the bar.

Karanjeet was adjudged man of the match for keeping East Bengal at bay for better part of the match.

Churchill started in right earnest and had two chances in the opening minutes but both of them did not result to a goal.

First, Anthony Wolf won the ball from Yuta Kinowaki with a sliding tackle and took a shot which hit the post and off the rebound Ansumana Kromah's strike was saved by Lajong keeper Vishal Kaith.

In the 29th minute, Brandon Fernandes' shot from distance hit the crossbar and bounced off.

The visitors, who did well in keeping Wolf and Kromah in check, failed to have a clear chance in the first half.

After the change of ends, Lajong looked a dominant side as they created more scoring chances but could not take advantage of them.

The draw took Churchill Brothers' points tally to 16 from 14 matches and they remained at sixth place.

Lajong are at fourth with 20 points from 13 matches.