I-League: RoundGlass Punjab FC defeat TRAU

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Chandigarh, April 16

RoundGlass Punjab FC (RGPFC) picked up its fourth consecutive win in the I-League by defeating TRAU FC. The Punjab-based outfit secured (1-0) win at Naihati Stadium, West Bengal. Striker Kurtis Guthrie scored the only goal of the match in the 35th minute.

With this, the Club regained third position on the league’s standings and now stands four points behind table toppers Gokulam Kerala FC and two points behind Mohammedan SC. Meanwhile, the first half kicked off with RGPFC leading from the front. Freddy Lallawmawma was the first one to attack. However, TARU’s custodian successfully defended the shot. Five minutes later, Maheson Singh moved towards goal and fired in an effort, but it went wide of the post. The pressure continued to mount on the TRAU defence as Guthrie’s shot on the turn was narrowly off target in the 21st minute. The Englishman almost got on the end of a headed pass inside the penalty box from Travis Major, only to be denied by a last-second intervention.

With 10 minutes to play in the first half, Guthrie opened the scoring. The ball was won high up the pitch and laid off to Joseba Beitia, who produced an inch-perfect cross from the right flank for Guthrie. The striker calmly head home and take his scoring tally for the season to double figures.

Guthrie almost doubled the tally in the 41st minute after getting his head to a cross from the left side but was denied by rival custodian Amrit Gope. At the break, the scoreline read 1-0 in favour of the RGPFC. In the second half, the club picked good pace and put more pressure on the rivals. On other hand, TRAU looked to catch RGPFC on a couple of occasions. However, goalkeeper Jaspreet Singh was alert enough to keep his territory safe. Substitutes Rupert Nongrum and Aphaoba Singh were brought. In the 88th minute, Nongrum was near to score his third goal of the season. However, his shot from six yards was saved. In the end, the match drew to a close with the score line reading 1-0 in favour of RoundGlass Punjab FC.

In its next match, the RGPFC will face table toppers Gokulam Kerala FC on April 19, which will be the final game for both teams in the league’s first phase.