Kolkata: RoundGlass Punjab FC (RGPFC) completed a hat-trick of wins as they beat Chennai City FC 2-0 at the Kalyani Stadium on Saturday (February 13). The win moved RPFC to the top of the I-League points table with 14 points in eight games, one point ahead of Churchill Brothers, who have played one game less.
RPFC made one change from their 2-1 victory over Indian Arrows with Mohammed Irshad starting ahead of injured Suranjit Singh. Chennai City FC also made a change from their 2-1 win over NEROCA FC as Head Coach Satyasagara picked Lijo Francis over Umasankar for this game.
RGPFC created their first big opportunity of the game on 18 minutes. Bhutanese forward Chencho flicked a long ball over his marker and forced a brilliant save from Chennai City’s goalkeeper Kabir Toufik.
They kept pressing hard and got their reward on 43 minutes. Souvik Das’s immaculate cross found Papa Babacar Diawara just outside the six-yard box. The Senegalese forward received the ball on his chest and fired a volley at the back of the net. RGPFC went into the half-time with a 1-0 lead over their opponents.
They came close of doubling their lead on 54 minutes with Sumeet Passi. However, the substitute was unable to turn in Aphaoba Singh’s cross from a tight angle although he put in a terrific effort.
Chennai created a good opportunity to equalise on 59 minutes. Demir Avdic won the ball off a defender, before breaking in the box and sent a powerful strike towards goal. However, Kiran Limbu produced a sensational save to prevent the posed danger. A minute later, Chencho broke from the following corner and sent in a cross for Papa Diawara, who was inches away from slotting the second goal for his team.
Chennai City created another opening on 80 minutes, with Demir Avdic curling his effort towards the top corner. However, the Nepalese custodian pulled off another world-class save to deny the Serbian.
RPFC scored another goal on 88 minutes. Aphaoba Singh broke on the counter, latching on to a long pass from Beitia, before sending in a dipping shot. Toufik saved the shot but the rebound fell into the path of substitute Rupert Nongrum, who made sure he remained onside and duly put the ball into an empty net.
