AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The Opening Round of Airtel I-League gave perfect advertisement of its perennial unpredictability with Champions Churchill Brothers and the most accomplished side in the League Dempo finding themselves on the wrong side of the spectrum.

An opportunistic strike from new signing Scottish Darryl Duffy helped Goan club Salgaocar crown Coach Derrick Periera’s return to the club, where he excelled as a player earlier, with 1-0 triumph over local rivals Churchill on Saturday.

Thangboi Singto’s Shillong Lajong made sure Arthus Papas starts his stint as Dempo Coach with a loss, upending the Goan heavyweights 3-0 courtesy a brace of goals from new-arrival World Cupper Cornell Glenn and one from Boithang Haokip.

In the other games of the honeymoon Round where no result sounds the death knell for the title race, debutants Bengaluru FC almost pulled off a memorable win over Mohun Bagan, beofr the Kolkata side’s CS Sabeeth netted in at stoppage time to cancel out Australian Striker Sean Rooney’s first-half goal.

Both Yusa Katsumi of Mohun Bagan and Rooney were guilty of bungling from the spot.   

2^nd Division League winners Rangdajied United found life difficult in their first top flight match as they lost to United SC by two goals. After goal-machine Ranti Martins opened the account for the Purple shirts in the 64^th minute, Eric Brown justified his signing with a superb strike 11 minutes later.

Dutchman Mike Snoei began his journey as Pune FC Coach on a high rallying to a 3-1 win on the road over just-crowned Durand Cup Champions Mohammedan Sporting.

It was Josimar da Silva who gave the newly-promoted Mohammedan Sporting the lead in the 11^th minute only to see his goal nullified five minutes later by Pune’s new recruit Raul Fabiani.

The Spanish Striker had a queer day in office, seeing red for taking off his shirt moments after notching his second goal post the breather. James Meyer scored in between to complete the comeback for last year’s Runners-up.

In Pune, Mumbai FC failed to hold on to a first half lead as Oscar Bruzon’s Sporting Clube de Goa equalised through Ogba Kalu Nnanna in the second essay after John Coutinho had given the hosts the lead.

East Bengal, who play Semen Padang on Tuesday (September 24, 2013) at the latter’s home, were not in action in Round 1 due to AFC Cup commitments.