Salgaocar 3 - Churchill Brothers 1
East Bengal 3 - Indian Bank 0
JCT 1 - Tollygunge 0
A fine brace by Meleish D'Costa enabled Salgaocar rally to get past Churchill Brothers 3-1 in the second Under-19 National Football League, at the Duler ground, in Mapusa, Goa, on Thursday.
It was Salgaocar's second successive victory in as many matches. Churchill were playing their first engagement in the tournament.
Churchill started in right earnest. After dictating terms early, they forged ahead in the 14th minute, when a flag-kick by Bango deflected off the foot of defender Minguel Peisco and beat Salgaocar 'keeper Gerard.
But Salgaocar gradually settled down and began to call the shots. Melish, who was instrumental in Salgacoar's victory over Vasco in their opening match, restored parity in the 34th minute, when he tapped the ball home from close after Churchill goalkeeper Agnelo D'Costa misjudged the flight of a cross from Vindan.
After change of ends, Salgaocar took the lead in the 68th minute, when Lourdes Fernandes sent a defence-splitting pass to Rajesh Patil, who completed the formalities.
Meleish then put the issue beyond doubt, beating the Churchill keeper with a stiff shot.
Salgaocar have six points from two matches, while Churchill Brothers are yet to open their account.
East Bengal, JCT win
In Kolkata, East Bengal and Jagajit Cotton Textile Mills, Phagwara, carved out contrasting victories.
East Bengal, who drew goalless with Tollygunge Agragami in their opener, blanked Indian Bank, Chennai, 3-0, on their home ground to move to the top of the table on better goal difference than JCT.
In the other match, JCT, riding on a opening-half strike by Mandeep Kumar, at the Mohammedan Sporting ground, pipped Tollygunge Agragami 1-0.
The Punjab club had drawn goalless with Indian Bank in their first match.
East Bengal, who dominated the exchanges all through, went into the lead in the 42nd minute through Kamal Kisku. They held sway in the second session, pumping in two more goals to take their points tally to four.
While Surajit Bose made the scoreline 2-0 in the 76th minute, Bipul Hansda added one more five minutes later to put the issue beyond their rivals.