Bidyashagar Singh hat-trick leads TRAU to victory against Real Kashmir FC

KALYANI: Bidyshagar Singh led TRAU to a thumping 3-1 win over Real Kashmir FC at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium in Kalyani on Wednesday. He had scored a hat-trick against MSC as well in their last match and the nimble-footed forward continued his fine scoring form. The Snow Leopards pulled one back in the 24th minute.

Singh struck in the 8^th, 37^th and 85^th minutes to complete a well deserved hattrick. Real Kashmir got the reducer through Danish Farooq in the 24^th minute.

Coming on the back of a thumping 4-0 win over Mohammedan SC, TRAU continued their fine attacking form against Real Kashmir FC as well. The Nandakumar-coached side could have taken the lead in less than five minutes in the match as chances by Komron Tursunov and Bidyashagar Singh were missed at close range. However, with attacking momentum heavily on their side, TRAU broke through the Real Kashmir FC defence in the 8th minute, but the Snow Leopards had only themselves to blame for conceding. A routine clearance was fluffed by Anuj Kumar and Bidyshagar Singh was there to capitalise on the error as he thumped home from close range.

The first real chance for Real Kashmir FC came in the 18th minute when Mason Robertson’s shot was deflected for a corner kick after the Snow Leopards launched a counter-attack that almost reaped dividends for them. Despite playing catch-up for much of the first half to TRAU, the Snow Leopards scored their equaliser in the 24th minute when Danish Farooq headed home from close range from a free-kick scenario, to make the scoreline read 1-1.

CB’s unbeaten streak broken: A dominant performance by Gokulam Kerala FC saw the team end Churchill Brother’s 11-match unbeaten streak as an own goal by Vanlal Duatsanga (4^th minute) and a Dennis Antwi brace (56^th and 62^nd) led Vincenzo Annese’s men to a 3-0 win over the Red Machines at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Wednesday.  

With this win, Gokulam Kerala FC propel themselves to second in the Hero I-League table, albeit level on points (22) with TRAU, but ahead due to a superior head-to-head record. Gokulam’s win has thrown the Hero I-League title race wide open with the gap between the chasing pack and league leaders Churchill Brothers just down to three points with three matches left to go for the season.

Thrilling draw: RoundGlass Punjab FC were held to a 3-3 draw by a remarkable Mohammedan SC team that saw it score two goals in as many minutes in the second half, as the teams shared the spoils of battle at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday. Chencho Gleytshen’s brace (34^th and 46^th) was cancelled out by Faisal Ali (59^th) and Pedro Manzi (65^th) strikes in the second half, before Azharuddin Mallick (66^th) had given Mohammedan the lead. Only for Ashish Jha (88^th) to score the equalising goal for RoundGlass Punjab.

Coming off a 1-0 loss to Gokulam Kerala FC in their last match, RoundGlass Punjab FC showed intent and played like they had to prove something, in the opening minutes of the match. Chencho Gleytsehn had the opportunity in the 5th minute to put the Punjab-based club ahead but his shot went wide of the goal. In the 15th minute, Joseba Beitia put Papa Diawara straight onto the goal with a well-weighted through ball. Diawara, however, with no real pressure, and only the goalkeeper to beat, shot straight down Priyant Singh’s throat as he made an easy save. (Text & picture: AIFF Media)

Points Table

Phase – 2 Group A