Andrea Silva was in fine fettle with the Nigerian netting a brace in Hindustan Football Club’s 2-0 victory over Luangmual FC in their Round I Second Division I-League encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium here on Friday.
Silva found the target in the 15th and 76th minutes of the match to earn his its first win in two matches in Group ‘C’. The Mizoram side, on the other hand, suffered its first defeat, having edged out local favourites South United FC 4-3 in their opener.
Barring a brief period in the dying minutes, Hindustan held the upper hand with Luangmual struggling to find their rhythm. In fact, the Mizos failed to come up with a single goalward shot in the first half.
Silva, who couldn’t get a touch to a Shaji A pass from the right in the eighth minute, made up for the miss with a glancing header that found the net after being fed by Jatinder Singh from the left.
Luangmual started the second session on a bright note and the first real effort from the Mizos came in the 64th but skipper Rosangliana’s long-ranger went straight to Hindustan goalkeeper Vikrant Sharma.
Soon after that Silva had his low volley saved by Luangmual custodian T Saitluanga but the Nigerian found the top of the net with a powerful right footer from the edge of the box eight minutes later.
Towards the fag end of the match, Luangmual had the rival defence on their toes. Jonathan Lalsangzuala, who replaced Lalbiaktluanga in the 60th, spilled a sitter. After pouncing on a loose ball inside the box, Jonathan placed the ball wide when Sharma was at his mercy.
In injury time, Jonathan failed to control a pass from Lalruathara inside the box before B Zoramthara struck a free-kick against the crossbar from just outside the 18-yard box.
In a Group ‘A’ encounter at Singrauli, A D Kumar’s 75th minute effort helped Bangalore club KGF Academy hold Kohima Komets 1-1. With two wins and two draws, KGF now have eight points from four matches.
Saturday’s match: Eagles FC vs Kalighat Milan Sangha FC (1.30 pm); South United FC vs Southern Samity (4.00 pm).
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