JOIN USArmy Service Corps (ASC) staved off a stunning second-half fightback from Pioneer Corps Training Centre (PCTC) to register a 5-3 win in a ‘Pool A’ match of the Ozonegroup KSHA Super Division league (first phase, second round) match at the KSHA stadium on Friday.
Goals from Tutti S (16th), Bhariya Bhengra (26th), Feroz RK (35th), Majhi AK (52nd) and Dung Dung (61st) helped ASC’s cause while Rajesh NS (41st, 46th) and Sairaj Singh’s strikes (45th) kept PCTC alive at one stage.
Tutti was on top of his game in the initial stages and showed good positional sense to push the ball in off a fine Deepu pass in the 16th minute for the first goal. PCTC tried to plug holes in their defence but again came short as they conceded the second goal to ASC in the 26th minute when Bhengra slotted home from a Majhi pass from the left.
Feroz converted a penalty corner in the 35th minute to give ASC a 3-0 lead at the half-time.
There were no signs of a reversal in fortunes until six minutes after resumption, but the six minutes after that saw PCTC making the comeback of the tournament.
In the 41st minute, Rajesh lunged forward to sound the board off a defence piercing pass from captain Aind for PCTC’s first goal.
Sairaj then replicated the same shot for PCTC’s second goal with Ekam Singh relaying a long pass from midfield in the 45th minute.
Rajesh struck the equaliser in the 46th minute with a well-executed solo effort from the right leaving the ASC players and bench in a daze.
However, a fairytale win eluded PCTC when Majhi, who was involved in assisting roles in the earlier part of the match, latched onto a Chermanna pass to score in the 52nd minute.
Dung Dung then made an acrobatic dive coming from the right to guide in a cross from Rawa Bhengra in the 61st minute for ASC’s fifth goal.
Thereafter ASC defended resolutely to deny PCTC and come away with three points.
Results: BEML: 3 (Arvind 29th, Chinga 47th, Kiran 48th) bt DYSS ‘A’: 1 (Honnur Swamy N 41st); ASC: 5 (Tutti S 16th, Bhariya Bhengra 26th, Feroz RK 35th, Majhi AK 52nd, Dung Dung 61st) bt PCTC: 3 (Rajesh NS 41st, 46th, Sairaj Singh 45th).