Punjab FC run show : The Tribune India

quick links

States

Cities

Opinion

Life

Move Ahead

Classified

Reach Us

The Tribune

Punjabi Tribune

Dainik Tribune

Punjab FC players celebrate scoring the third goal against Chennai City FC in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Anil Datt

Ludhiana, December 10

Punjab FC scripted a stunning 3-1 win over defending champions Chennai City FC in their third match of the I-League at the Guru Nanak Stadium here today. Their first win of the season, after a defeat and a draw, has put Punjab FC in the fifth place on the points table.

In a high voltage encounter, Punjab FC looked comfortably in charge early on and created opportunities. However, Chennai City FC goalkeeper N Garcia Santana stood his ground to thwart all moves initiated by Punjab’s Girik Mahesh Khosla and Jason Stewart Hart.

Ruthless EB outplay Neroca in 4-1 win

Imphal: East Bengal earned their first win of this I-League season after they outplayed Neroca FC 4-1 in front of a heart-broken 20,000 crowd at the Khuman Lampak Stadium here today. Jaime Colado (21st and 52nd) converted twice from the penalty spot, while Juan Mera (33rd) and Marcus Espada (65th) also found the target. Bou Bacar Diara scored the consolation goal for the 'Oranges' in the 31st minute. The determination of the Red and Gold brigade was evident right from the start. First, Juan Mera's cross just eluded Santos Colado and within the next few seconds, Santos' cross was feebly headed by Marcos posing no problem for Neroca keeper Marvin Philip. East Bengal now sit third, while Neroca stay at the seventh spot with three points. pti

Chennai City too made forays into the rival citadel through Katsumi Yusa of Japan and Roberto E of Spain but could not breach the Punjab defence.

After the first barren half, Punjab made two substitutions, bringing in Dipanda Dicka and Makan Winkle Chothe in place of Jason Hart and Girik Mahesh, in the 56th minute. This brought more pace and energy into the game as the home side was in more control in the midfield.

The duo played in tandem to rip apart the Chennai defence repeatedly. Punjab forged ahead when, off a corner kick by Sanju Pradhan, Dicka struck an angular shot into the goal in the 79th minute.

Stung, Chennai City went all out for the equaliser, and in the 85th minute they got it through skipper Pedro Javier, with an assist by Katsumi Yusa.

However, the Punjab players were in no mood to give up and midfielder M Thoiba Singh struck three minutes later to put his in the lead again. In the 91st minute, Punjab’s Brazilian recruit Barboza made a tremendous run and dived to head in a cross from Chothe to make it 3-1. In their next match, Punjab FC will face Indian Arrows on December 16.