Chirag United trounces Vasco Sports Club 3-1, Sunday shines

Duler, Mar 2 (UNI) A fine brace by Liberian Theodore Sunday enabled Kolkata's Chirag United outplay Goa's Vasco Sports Club 3-1 in their opening match of the ONGC 2nd Division National Football League (NFL) match played at Duler ground, Mapusa in North Goa today.

The foreigner duo--Theodore Sunday and Maduako Francis--in the front tore open the Goa's sloppy defence repeatedly to help Chirag gain 3-0 lead in the half time.

Chirag surged ahead as early as in the 13th minute through Theodore, when Francis from the right flank, beating the rival defence, sent a cross pass to Theodore, whose left-footer found the net to make it 1-0.

The visitors increased their lead in the 17th minute through Theodore who completed his brace.

Insipred by two goals in quick sucession, Chirag continued the attack and scored the third goal through Francis, who after collecting a pass from Theodore deceived the rival defender Roberto Fernandes and shot into the goal between Roberoto's leg to make 3-0 at half time.

Vasco, too, had chances to score but failed to convert them.

In the very first minute, K K Ibrahim's shot hit the cross bar and rebounded into the play. Then in the 42nd minute and injury minute of the first half, Chirang's goalkeeper Pralay Dutta brought off a couple of fine saves attempted by Rovan Pereira and Roberto Fernanades respectively.

After cross over, Vasco regrouped well and made some desperate attempts to reduce the margin and managed to score in the 65th minute through Alvito Rodrigues from a well measured pass by Kamal Thapa 3-1.

Vasco could have scored another goal in the 76th minute had not Chirag defender Wazid Ali made a goal line save off a shot taken by Vasco's K K Ibrahim off a pass from Emanuel.

Vasco had one more chance to reduce the margin during the injury time, but the visitors' defender S K Ajim brought off a goal line save off a good shot by Joy Ferrao.

Tomorrow, Punjab Police will meet South Eastern Central Railway at the same venue.

UNI