Mohun Bagan, Mahindra United, Churchill Brothers and South Africa's Santos football club made their way into the semi-finals of the 113th IFA Shield football tournament in Kolkata on Monday.
In quarter-final Group A outings, Mohun Bagan sped past Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting 3-1, while Churchill carved out a 2-0 win over local side Mohammedan Sporting.
Goan outfit Churchill topped the group with seven points, pushing Bagan, with a point less, to second place.
In the semi-finals on March 5, Bagan take on Group B winners Santos while Churchill lock horns with Group B runners-up Mahindra United.
In the day's only Group B fixture, East Bengal put up a much-improved display to hold formidable Santos 1-1, but that was not enough for the Kolkata giants to make the cut for the last four.
Santos, who got past Mahindra 2-0 in their lung opener, wrapped up their quarter-final engagements with four points from the three-team group. Mahindra earned three points, while East Bengal bagged a solitary point and finished last.
Santos took an early lead over East Bengal, with Gregory Michael Roelf finding the target in the seventh minute with a header following a cross from overlapping right back Cliffton Davids.
East Bengal, who showed greater cohesion than in their game against Manindra, restored parity six minutes later, as Brazilian Edmilson converted a penalty.
Referee A Arjunan awarded the easiest of set pieces to the local club after Santos goalkeeper Eduan Andre Naude brought down Ghanaian Abeeku Gaisie inside the box.
With Santos not looking the dazzling side they seemed on Friday, the even contest at the Howrah Municipal Corporation saw East Bengal create several opportunities in the second half.
They came close to socring on two occasions in injury time, but Syed Rahim Nabi and Edmilson failed to finish off.
While Nabi, despite having an open net before him, headed over, Edmilson nodded straight to the goalkeeper.
At Barasat stadium, Churchill struck through Kalu Ogba and Jason Valse in the one-sided tie.
The clash between Bagan and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting saw Baichung Bhutia scoring a brace, while Ishfaq Ahmed chipped in with another goal. Enamul Haq Farid scored a consolation goal for the foreign side.
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