East Bengal, JCT win

Kolkata, Dec 11 (IANS) Defending champions East Bengal and JCT Phagwara went past their opponents, each with a 2-0 margin, in group C lung-openers of the 30th Federation Cup football championship here Thursday.

Playing at the Vidyasagar Stadium in Barasat, JCT rode on two opening half strikes to Prevail over Sporting Clube de Goa.

Following up on a Jaspal Singh croner, Julius Akpele unleashed a side-volley in the 23rd minute which changed the direction off Balwant Singh's head and entered the goal.

The lead was doubled in the 40th minute when Julius essayed a diagonal ball that was volleyed in by Eduardo Da Silva.

East Bengal, on the contrary, left behind an insipid first half display to go full steam in the later session to account for Delhi Heroes.

The first goal came within seconds of the second half resumption when Ghanian Yusif Yakubu did the spadework for Sunil Chhetri, who netted a grounder that foxed rival goalkeeper Rajat Guha.

Seven minutes before time, Alvito de Cunha got the insurance goal off a Chhetri centre from the right.