Five Federation Cup classics in the I-League era

Mohammedan Sporting 2-4 Mahindra United (2008 group stage)

Mohammedan Sporting’s late goals ended Mahindra United’s hopes

Going into this final group game, Mahindra United needed to match Churchill Brothers’ result against HAL. But with Chruchill certain to beat the group’s weakest team HAL by a big margin, Mahindra needed to triumph handsomely and that wasn’t going to be easy considering that Mohammemdan also had a small chance of progressing to the semis. With both matches kicking off at the same time it was going to be a tense finish but Mahindra started well as they took the lead from a Steven Dias freekick after just 18 minutes. They doubled their advantage through Edeh Chidi and could have easily been three or four up at the interval. In other game Churchill lead 3-0 at the break which meant that the Mumbai club were still going through on goal difference but they needed to score a few more in the second period to be certain.

Mahindra wasted a few chances from open play but successful penalty conversions from Chidi and Mohammed Rafi put them 4-0 up midway through the second half. But the news from the other game wasn’t encouraging as Churchill were leading 5-0 and threatening to add to their tally. Mahindra had to keep attacking and predictably they conceded on the counter attack as Mohammed Shahid pulled one back. With news coming from the Churchill game that Odafa Okolie has scored twice more to make it 7-0, Mahindra required a couple of goals in stoppage time to at least match the Goan club’s statistics and ensure a drawing of lots to decide the group winner. But they couldn’t score any further while Vimal Pariyar added insult to injury by making it 4-2. Mahindra were eliminated despite being unbeaten.