Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Durga strikes as NEUFC rout table leader

By Sports reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 27 � Bottom placed North East United Football Club (NEUFC) upset table leader Chennaiyin Football Club 3-0 in their 11th match of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).

In an action-packed first session, the home team fired all the salvoes as the second session remained dry. Finally the striking force of the NEUFC woke up and showed some class.

Local boy Durga Boro opened the account while Kondwani Mtonga netted a brace for the home team.

Unmarked Durga found the ball inside the goal area with opponent goal keeper Gennaro Bracigliao alone in front of him. He kept his cool and gently pushed home at the far post (1-0) in the 10th minute.

The goal electrified the partisan crowd of brightly lit Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here.

The home team sniffed blood and romped into attach with more aggression after the goal. They built a series of moves after that and doubled the lead in the 21st minute. Anticipating a flag kick taken by Sergio Contreras Pardo (Koke), the lanky Zambian striker Kondwani Mtonga beat Gennaro with a sharp header (2-0). NEUFC� thirst for goal developed and Mtonga fired again in the 23rd minute. He again read the flight of the ball off a set piece taken by Koke, he nodded it into the goal leaving no opportunity for Gennaro even to make an attempt for save (3-0).

The first session was completely belonged to the host team with perfect game plan and control over the ball. The first half score line should have been 7-0, but Indian forward Seimeinlen Dungel, Mtonga and Koke missed at least six scoring opportunities after exposing the Chennaiyin defence. However, Koke was the live wire of the team and played the role of a perfect game maker.

The visiting team hardly could make head way towards the opponent�s goal in their dry first session. Midfielder Eric Daniel Djemba of Cameroon and India forward Jeje Lalpekhlua tried a little with their individual efforts but their team work hardly was impressive.

As expected the Chennaiyin players could not go for kill in the second session and were seen not experimenting any new in order to stage a comeback. However the sharpness of the home team also reduced at the up front.

The host team was reduced to a 10-men team in the 71st minute when Spanish defender Joan Capdevila Mndez was given marching order for being booked twice by referee Dilan Perera. Chennaiyin should have utilized the advantage but they could not. NEUFC defenders Massamba Lo Sambou of Senegal Miguel Garcia of Portugal along with goal keeper Rehenesh T Paramba did a great job at the defensive third to defy the opponent attackers from doing any damage. The NEUFC defenders never left even an inch for the opponent inside the goal area.

With this win the home team jumped to the fifth place in the points table with 13 points.

Next Story