Baichung Bhutia's club United Sikkim Sports Club (USSC) bowed out of the Governor's Gold Cup this afternoon, after going down to Jammu & Kashmir Bank by two goals to nil...Lightening does not strike twice. Baichung Bhutia’s home club United Sikkim Sporting Club (USCC) went down fighting against Jammu and Kashmir Bank by 2 goals to nil in today’s match of the 30th All India Governor’s Gold Cup played here at Paljor Stadium.
USSC had previously beaten Simla Youngs, Delhi to enter into the pre-quarterfinal stage where the Sikkimese club ran into the J&K side coached by former Indian football team captain Abdul Majeed.
The match quickly changed into a power game as the Sikkimese side dominated the early proceedings and Avinash Thapa came close to scoring as in the early minutes. However, the injury to USCC goalkeeper KT Lepcha in the 26th minute cost the home dearly in the second half. His replacement Amit Haldar could only parry a shot by J&K Bank striker Ibrahim into the direction of quick footed S.Rizwan who slotted the loose ball into the net. Rizwan’s goal sent the home crowd into a deep silence.
USSC quickly regrouped and went into search for an equalizer and came very close on two occasions in quick succession. A well crafted move between USSC’s Nigerian recruits Collins and Ike placed the former into a very good position but could not finish the job. Moments earlier, Eze’s header was goal bounded but the bankmen’s goalkeeper managed to make an excellent save.
Minutes later, a defensive error saw J&K Bank Nigerian recruit Ibrahim muscle his past two USSC defenders and pulled the ball back for Satwinder Singh to slam home the second goal in the 81st minute. The second goal killed any chances for the home team to stage a comeback for the second successive match.
With this loss, the home team’s run ends while the bankmen run into Army XI in the quarterfinals on October 18.
Source:Goal.com
