Bagan, Churchill in last eight

Defending champions Mohun Bagan grounded Air India, Bombay, 2-1, while Zee Churchill, Goa, defeated State Bank of Travancore, Thiruvananthapuram, to enter the quarter-finals of the 24th Federation Cup football tournament, in Madras, on Tuesday.

Bagan will now play Salgaocar, Goa, while Zee Churchill will take on Mahindra United, Bombay, in the quarterfinals.

Renedy Singh and Barreto Ramires scored for Bagan while Naushad Moosa reduced the margin for Air India, converting a penalty.

In the earlier match, Francis Coelho assured Zee Churchill a berth in the quarter-finals with a second-half goal.

The bankmen did enjoy an edge in the first half but the story was different in the second half as the Goan team played true to their potential and were more cohesive in their attacks.

In between, a counter-attack almost fetched Churchill a goal, but Denzil Ferrao, who received a through pass from captain Roque Barretto, shot wide.

A little later, SBT's Ashif Saheer missed a sitter. Saheer sped down the centre from top of the box, drew 'keeper Edward Ansah out but shot straight into the custodian.

Crossing over, Churchill attacked and scored in the tenth minute. Following a flag-kick, by Somatai Shaiza, Francis Coelho headed home past 'keeper Purushothaman and a defender.

Earlier Federation Cup reports:
Day 1: Dempo win Fed Cup opener
Day 2: Golden goal win for Sporting Club de Goa
Day 3: Air India down Mohd. Sporting; SBT win
Day 4: Dempo shock F C Kochin: Federation Cup
Day 5: National champions East Bengal shocked
Day 6: Mahindra, Salgaocar in last eight