Army see red after 4-1 thrashing

A brace by Asim Hassan and a goal each by Henry Ezeh and Parvinder Singh helped ONGC rout Army Red 4-1 in the Durand Trophy group stage match at the Ambedkar stadium on Wednesday

A brace by Asim Hassan and a goal each by Henry Ezeh and Parvinder Singh helped ONGC rout Army Red 4-1 in the Durand Trophy group stage match at the Ambedkar stadium on Wednesday. In the second match of the day,Air India was beaten by Indian Navy 2-0. Army Red have finished both their group matches winning one and losing the other,but their passage to the semifinal becomes very tough especially after conceding four goals against ONGC which may affect their goal difference.

Despite starting as the underdog against an ONGC side which has I-League experience,it was the Army side that drew the first blood. As early as in the 19th minute,Army Red were given an opportunity to go ahead when winger Lal Ramneen Moya charged into the box from the left flank. In order to thwart his run,ONGC’s left back Sachin Gawas obstructed him just inside the box and the referee awarded Army a penalty. It was a similar opening for Army Red as they went ahead through a penalty against Pune FC in the opener. They called on their defender-cum-penalty expert Vipin TV to take the kick and he obliged,as Army Red took an early lead.

ONGC regrouped and began to put pressure on the opposition. Despite getting a few half-chances,the side failed to convert them,at least until near the end of the first half. In the 39th minute,ONGC skipper Jatin Bisht found his way into the Army box.and on the run,hit a volley towards the goal. Though the strike was superbly saved by Army goalie AK Balwant,the ball rebounded from his hands and fell kindly to Asim Hassan,who tapped in for the equaliser.

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After the breather,ONGC took full control of the game. Their attacks multiplied and the score remained level only because the side missed the target repeatedly at the end of good moves. In the 58th minute,Hassan scored his second of the game with a run through the right flank and a right-footed shot from just outside the box. The goal put ONGC ahead and set up the side’s Nigerian recruit and striker Henry Ezeh for the third goal.

With Army Red on the lookout for an equaliser,they were always going to be vulnerable on the counter and that is how ONGC got their third. With an Army Red move ending tamely in the hands of the goal-keeper,the long clearance fell to the lone guy in the other half,Ezeh.

The striker pushed aside the attentions of defender Vipin TV,tapping in his side’s third goal at leisure in the 64th minute.

In the 73rd minute,ONGC coach C Pinho replaced Lavino Fernandes with Kamaluddin Khan. His move paid rewards just two minutes later when Khan dribbled past the Army midfield and from the right flank,played in Parwinder Singh who was making a run form the center. As soon as Parwinder entered the box,Khan sent a measured cross to him which was left-footed on the go for the side’s fourth in the 76th minute.

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Tomorrows fixtures: Sikkim United vs Assam Regimental Centre at 1.30 pm; Mohammedan Sporting Club vs Army Green at 3.30 pm.

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