Mahindra, Salgaocar in Durand semis

Salgaocar Sports Club put it across fancied JCT 2-1 to set up a semi-final encounter with Mahindra United in the Osian's Durand Cup football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.

Anil Kumar (seventh minute) and Shylo Malswamtlunga (31st) found the net for the Goan team while international Sunil Chettri (45+) reduced the margin for the team from Punjab.

Despite their best efforts, Sukhwinder Singh's boys could not get the equaliser in the second period.

Mahindra needed a penalty shootout to prevail over Sporting Clube-de-Goa 5-3 after the teams were locked goalless in 120 minutes of open play.

Samananda Singh's penalty kick came off the crossbar with all other efforts in the tie-breaker being on target. The result was a repeat of the one in the quarterfinals of the Federation Cup which also was decided in a similar fashion.

The match had gone to the Russian roulette after both teams failed to find the mark in 120 minutes of open play. N P Pradeep, Manjit Singh, Harpreet Singh, Mohammad Rafi and Ghanain Yusuf Yakubu were successful.

Kenyan Bonface Ambani, Micky Fernandes and Bibiano Fernandes made it for Sporting with Samananda Singh missing the second of those attempts.

Mahindra brought on substitute keeper Subhashish Roychowdhury for the tie-breaker and the move paid dividends.

This had worked during the Federation Cup in Ludhiana with Roychowdhury getting his team over the line against the same team as well as Dempo Sports Club.

Tomorrow's semifinals are both Mumbai vs Goa affairs as Churchill Brothers take on Air India while Mahindra face Salgaocar.

The result would be a boost for Savio Medeira's Salgoacar, who have regained their spot in the top division of the national league for the coming season.

JCT did most of the attacking but Salgaocar reaped rewards for capitalising on their chances.

They took an early lead when Anil Kumar tapped home a cut back from Nigerian Felix Chimaokwu. JCT keeper Karanjit Singh had left his goal to stop the pass resulting in Anil having an open goal in front of him.