JCT, ITI in goalless draw

JCT Mills, Phagwara, held local giants ITI to a goalless draw, in a crucial encounter for both the teams from relegation point of view, in the National Football League, in Bangalore, on Wednesday.

With this draw in the penultimate round of the 22-match championship, JCT and ITI secured one point each, but both are faced with the threat of relegation, along with State Bank of Travancore and Air India.

Two teams ending up at the bottom of the 12-team league will be relegated to the second division.

With one match to go for all these four teams, ITI have 22 points, followed by SBT 20, JCT 20 and Air India 18 points.

Wednesday's result at the Bangalore Football stadium is a repeat of the first phase clash between the two sides.

In an encounter of missed chances, wrong passes and poor coordination today, both ITI and JCT, the winner of the inaugural NFL, failed to play to their potential.

The hosts missed at least three clear chances in the first half, while Hardip Gill missed a golden chance for JCT, as his shot after the breather was off the mark.

East Bengal are currently heading the table with 43 points from 21 matches, followed by defending champions Mohun Bagan with 39 points from 20 outings.

Mohun Bagan takes on Vasco in a crucial encounter at Margao, Goa, on Thursday. Mohun Bagan will then travel to Bangalore and clash with ITI in the last league engagement on April 30.