Kolkata, September 01: Mahindra United prevailed over George Telegraph 2-0 while Tata Football Academy (TFA) finished 1-1 with United Sporting Club in their opening 114th IFA Shield group matches Tuesday.
Mohammed Rafi scored both the goals for the jeepmen in the group C tie at the Khardah stadium near here.
After a fruitless first half, Rafi found the mark in the 70th and 82nd minutes to ensure full points for the Mumbai side.
City outfit George Telegraph were reduced to 10 men for the last half hour after player Hira Roy was red-carded for an improper charge on Muritala.
In a group A encounter at the Mohun Bagan ground, Subodh Kumar put TFA boys ahead before Shylo Malswamtluanga restored parity. Both goals came in the second session.
Kumar’s rasping 47th minute free kick from about 25 yards broke the deadlock beating United Sporting custodian Sandip Nandy all ends up.
However, the two teams were back on even keel within five minutes.
A Lal Kamal Bhowmick centre was wrongly chest-trapped by TFA defender Gurjinder Singh and the ball came to Malsawtluanga who calmly put the ball into the net.
–Agencies