Tata Football Academy entered the semi-finals of the 108th IFA Shield football tournament after drawing goalless with Kolkata Port Trust in their concluding quarter-final league match in Kolkata on Tuesday.
TFA, who drew 0-0 with Vasco Sports Club in their lung-opener before stunning Mohammedan Sporting 2-0 on Monday, finished their Group B engagements with five points from three outings.
The youngsters of the Jamshedpur-based academy, despite taking the field for the second consecutive day, displayed ample stamina to dominate the proceedings at the East Bengal ground.
The TFA boys launched raids one after another, with their medios working hard, but positive chances were few and far between.
In the 25th minute of the opening half, TFA forward Naoba Singh got a free-kick from just outside the rival box, but the set-piece shot sailed over.
Five minutes hence, Jehry Zirsanga unleashed a snap shot by latching on to a loose ball inside the opponent's box, but much to the relief of the Port Trust players, the ball was off-target.
The local outfit, forced to defend for most part of the 90 minutes, got their only opportunity in the 33rd minute. A cross from the right found an unmarked Amar Pyne, who had TFA goalkeeper Subrata Paul at his mercy, but he only managed a shot into the body of the custodian.
More action followed, as Sujit Dey's goal-bound rebounder was cleared by a defender.
The match was marred by frayed tempers in the second-half, and referee Christopher John flashed the yellow card at five of the players. The match also had to be stopped for three minutes early in the second-half as the players got involved in a scuffle.
KPT, who lost 1-3 to Vasco in their first match, have only one point from two outings.
