Despite coming into the Federation Cup here with very little experience, home side Eagles FC Kerala finished the championship on a high at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday.
The Kochi-based Eagles produced a big surprise when it shocked Kolkata’s United FC 2-0 on Monday to end its campaign in the four-team Group A in second spot with four points.
The team’s experienced Nigerian striker Koko Sakibo netted a brace — he broke the off-side trap, collected a long ball and side-stepped the goalkeeper to score his first goal in the 12th minute, and then produced a similar effort towards the end of the game.
Naughty lobThis time, Sakibo drew out ’keeper Jayanta Paul and then placed a naughty lob over his head which found its way home.
Since Churchill Brothers had already taken the lone semifinal spot from Group A, United coach Eeclo Schattorie rested six of his players who had figured in the starting eleven in the previous game.
For United, it was a tale of missed opportunities. While Rajinder Singh messed up a couple of good chances in the first half, Baldeep Singh — who had netted United’s opener in the previous game — squandered two promising ones in the second session.
Churchill tops groupLater, Trinidad and Tobago World Cupper Anthony Wolfe struck twice as I-League champion Churchill Brothers defeated Pune FC 3-2 and topped the four-team group with nine points from three wins. United was third with three points, behind Eagles.
Pune, which had begun as favourite in its group, finished bottom with just one point.
The results: Group A: Eagles FC, Kochi 2 (Koko Sakibo 12 & 86) bt United FC 0; Churchill Brothers, Goa 3 (Anthony Wolfe 8 & 73, Lenny Rodrigues 32) bt Pune FC 2 (Gabriel Fernandes 19 & 53).
