×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Samity stay on course

Last Updated 18 March 2013, 16:56 IST

Dark horses Southern Samity FC restored their sole lead in the I-League Second Division standings after scoring a 2-1 win over fellow Kolkatans Kalighat Milan Sangha FC in an error-strewn match here on Monday.

Manipur-born David KC Ngaihte struck a fine second-half brace helping Samity stave off a late charge from Kalighat and register their third win of the Group C competition at the Bangalore Football Stadium.

Samity thus moved to 10 points from four matches while a sloppy Kalighat’s chances of advancing to the final phase took a big beating following their second loss that left them on six points from four games.

Almost evenly matched in every department, both Southern Samity and Kalighat started the contest in right earnest. Knowing a victory will lift them to the top of the table, the teams showed attacking intent and kept creating plenty of chances.

However, for all their industry, they were able to break the deadlock, thanks to extremely sloppy finishing. While the Delhi-based Ngaihte missed from point blank, thundering the ball over goalkeeper Suvam Sen, Kalighat missed three sitters that eventually cost them the game.

First Tanmoy Kundu shot wide in the 18th minute before James Gbilee had to watch in horror as his shot beat Southern Samity custodian Naseem Akhtar only to ricochet off the far post and fall back to the keeper. Zodinliana, completely unmarked, then blasted over from inside the box.

Slowly the game turned into a battle of attrition before springing to life in the 63rd minute. Jamir Ali Mondal relayed a short pass to Ngaihte from inside the box and striker rifled it home for the opening goal.

Kalighat then showed some urgency but with their strikers repeatedly fluffing chances, there was always the threat that they might pay for their mistakes. And that’s exactly what happened in the 77th minute when Tuishim Mashangva breezed past the Kalighat defenders before crossing it into the box. Completely unmarked, Ngaihte headed the ball powerfully past Suvam as  Samity took a handy 2-0 lead.

Kalighat mounted some late pressure and Gbilee struck two minutes from time. The goal seemed to spark life into Kalighat who went all out in search of an equaliser. However, Samity hung on resolutely for the next seven minutes -- five minutes were added on -- to eke out a hard-fought win.

DH News Service
Tuesday’s matches: Vasco SC vs Mumbai Tigers (1.30 pm); Luangmual FC vs Eagles FC.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 18 March 2013, 16:56 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT