GUWAHATI, June 18 � FC Green Valley made a flying start in the home leg of the Assam State Premier League.
Riding on a spectacular second half goal by Nigerian striker Michael Lucky Kelechukwa, the local team, edged past Baarhoongkha Athletic Club 1-0 at the Nehru Stadium here today.
It was an entertaining encounter as both the teams fought all out to gain supremacy. But poor finishing was the cause of concern for both the teams of the Lower Assam Zone.
FC Green Valley had to depend heavily on the Nigerian strikers Michael and George Prince Chinonso and the midfielders tried to find both at the opponent box with their passes. Both the frontliners, despite their heart out effort, were marked properly and hardly were denied space by the opponent defenders.
However, in the 20th minute, Green Valley midfielder Gaiham Rengmei missed the target narrowly as his shot hit the cross piece.
For the visiting team, overseas player Nwukwu Michael created a couple of openings which should have been converted into goals, but he lacked the accuracy in shooting at the goal.
Michael�s goal was an eye- catching one as receiving the ball at the top of the box, he unleashed a swerving right footer after dodging an opponent defender. The ball sailed into the Baarhoongkha goal in the 53rd minute beating custodian Anil Duwarah at his right corner of the iron frame.
With today�s victory, FC Green Valley collected 16 points from six outings. They are at the top of the Lower Assam Zone points table. The Kokrajhar outfit are at the bottom with six points behind FC Green Valley (16), Guwahati FC (8), Udalguri FC (7), Tezpur United (7) and Global FC, Gossaigaon (7).
At Golaghat, host Golaghat Rhino FC played a 1-1 draw against Jorhat Town Club. Biju Barik put the host team ahead in the 40th minute while Lalmawizuala levelled the issue in the 52nd minute.