In group B league matches in Siliguri, a second-half strike by Mohammad Mukhtar (54th) was enough to give Mohammadan Sporting a winning start, while there was heart-break in store for star-studded Mohun Bagan, playing out a goalless draw with Churchill Brothers in an evening match at the Kanchanjungha Stadium on Thursday.
In an evenly-contested match group A match at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, last year's winners Salgaocar were under pressure for a barren first half against a rejigged United SC boasting star forwards Ranty Martins, former Costa Rican World Cupper Carlos Hernandez and India goalkeeper Subrata Pal.
But the Karim Bencherifa-coached side bounced back in the second-half when forward Milagres Gonsalves sent an accurate pass to midfielder Anthony D
