JOIN USKarnataka Police rout hapless LRDE
Karnataka State Police signed off their BDFA Super Division league campaign in style with a 5-0 thumping of Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) here on Thursday.
The Policemen, whose title hopes went up in smoke after Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club won on Tuesday to retain their crown, took their frustration out with a dominant display against their lowly opponents. Assured of the second place irrespective of the result, the Policemen were all over LRDE, still in the relegation zone with a match to play.
KSP have impressed this season with their neat passing and good finishing skills in front of goal. LRDE got a taste of the medicine early when the Policemen took the lead in the third minute, capitalising on open space in the midfield. Captain Pradeep BV relayed a defence-splitting pass from the circle and striker Stephen breezed through to comfortably slot home.
Switching to damage-control mode, the Radarmen immediately strengthened their defence which worked well for KSP, who kept a majority of the possession.
Sustained pressure
After the interval, the Policemen came out firing on all cylinders and their opponents simply wilted under the sustained pressure. Twelve minutes after the break, Pradeep was brought down inside the box by defender Upendra, who also got a yellow card for the challenge. The KSP skipper slammed the ball from the spot for a 2-0 lead.
On the hour mark, KSP coach Dada Peer brought in Karthik for medio Alex Praveen. The move paid rich dividends 12 minutes later as Karthik burst clear from around 30 yards, dodged goalkeeper Antony and smartly lobbed the ball over him for the third goal.
Karthik was involved in the fourth goal two minutes from time after he dribbled down the right from the midfield and selflessly released to Maheshwaran for an easy tap-in.
Pradeep Kumar fired home the final salvo deep into injury time with a powerful strike from the edge of the area that screamed into the net.
While KSP have 34 points, LRDE now need a miracle to avoid relegation, having just six points to show so far.
In the day’s earlier match, Controllerate of Inspection Electronics edged Sports Authority of India 1-0 through Kanikaraj’s 28th-minute strike.