Disappointing start for SUFC

Hosts suffer 3-4 loss at the hands of Luangmual FC in opening match

 South United Football Club custodians had a horrific game as the local outfit suffered a 3-4 defeat to Luangmual Football Club in their Round I opening encounter of the Second Division I-League here on Monday.

The Mizo side found the target through Chencho (11th), B Lalrawngbawla (25th), Lalruatdika (34th) and B Zoramthara (54th) while SUFC reduced the margin through Amoes (17th, penalty), Stephen (24th) and Jayanta Raj Banshi (85th) at the Bangalore Football Stadium.

SUFC’s first choice goalkeeper Harpreet Singh made two mistakes which resulted in goals and coach Raman Vijayan sent in his second choice custodian Razakh in the second half but he too didn’t fare any better.

SUFC failed to match the speed and guile of Luangmual players while the local side’s erratic passing let them down on many occasions. As if for the reward for their positive approach, the Mizo side went ahead through Chencho, who slotted home a Lalruatthara pass from the left. SUFC with a stroke of luck levelled the scores when Amoes converted the spot kick awarded by Referee Prabir Dhar for a handball by one of the Mizo players.

Then came the dramatic errors from the SUFC goalkeepers. Harpreet, who advanced to the edge of the box to collect a regulation ball off a free-kick from C Lalrosanga, failed to time his jump properly as the ball brushed the back of the head of Lalrawngbawla to end up inside the net. Though, Stephen found the equaliser for SUFC, Harpreet again committed a blunder to hand the initiative to their rivals.

This time Harpreet spilled a weak shot which fell in front of Lalruatdika, who made no mistake.

Change of ends saw the change of goalkeeper but things remained the same as Razakh made a mess of a weak volley from Denghmingthanga and Zoramthara tapped in the loose ball.

Though, Banshi made it 3-4 with five minutes from time and SUFC pressed hard for the equaliser, Luangmual defence held on for three points.

In another Group C match, Vasco Sports Club played out a 1-1 draw with Kolkata’s Southern Samity. Francis O Onyeama put Samity ahead in the 32nd minute before Joston Pereira netted the equaliser for Vasco at the stroke of half-time.

Meanwhile, Inolanini scored the winner in the 49th minute as KGF Academy defeated DSK Shivajains FC 1-0 in their Group A match at Singrauli.


Tuesday’s matches: Hindustan FC vs Kalighat Milan Sangha (1.30 pm); Mumbai Tigers vs Eagles FC (4.00 pm).