United SC and Air India entered into the semifinals of the 114th IFA Shield football tournament on Saturday.
United SC beat East Bengal 4-2 to enter the semis, while Pune FC's 2-0 win over AS Douanes of Senegal enabled Air India set up a final-four clash with Churchill Brothers.
Continuing with their dismal run, East Bengal conceded four goals including one in the injury time in a rain-soaked Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat as United SC finished on top of Group A.
Having stunned East Bengal 3-1 earlier, Tata Football Academy also had the same goal difference (two) with United SC. But United SC qualified for semifinal with five goals scored -- against four of TFA -- from the two league matches.
Displaying superb fighting spirit, United SC scored through Shylo Malswam Tulunga (8th and 75th), Parveen Kumar (18th) and Josimar da Silva Martins (90+1).
The match was locked 2-2 at half-time with East Bengal scoring through Riston Rodrigues (27th) and Subhas Singh (42nd). But they failed to find the net after changeover and wrapped up a miserable outing in the tournament, where they have a record of 27 titles.
Under new coach Subhas Bhowmick, East Bengal started on a sloppy note conceding an early goal and it seemed they were yet to recover from the nightmare of losing to TFA.
East Bengal defenders crumbled under pressure, mid-field had problems aplenty as United SC went all out to take a 2-0 lead by 18th minute.
But East Bengal restored some parity when Rodrigues converted a freekick. Medio Mehtab Hussain's shot off Edmilson came rebound off a defender as Subhas found the net, helping the team to level score.
In a dramatic first-half, both the teams tried alternate ways and at one point it seemed it was heading for a draw, paving the way for TFA into the semifinal.
But Tulunga brought back their lead and after a few thrilling moments for United SC, their striker Josimar got a loose ball near East Bengal half-line and dribbled past the lone defender to steer their side into the final-four in the injury time.
In the Group D match at Mohun Bagan ground, a fancied AS Douanes of Senegal made an exit from the IFA Shield after losing to the I-League qualifiers, Pune FC, which registered their first win of the season with goals from Izumi Arata (30th) and Jeje Lalpekhlua (37th).
But the win was not enough for Pune FC who finished with three points as Air India with four points qualified for the last-four where they will take on Group B toppers Churchill Brothers.
For AS Douanes of Senegal, the rainy weather perhaps played the spoilsport as their tall players found it extremely difficult on the wet and slush outfield and slipped every time they went for a shot.
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