JCT set up quarter final clash with Salgaocar

The Ludhiana-based outfit performed like a well-oiled machine and hardly took any time in getting on with the proceedings. After some initial exchanges in the mid-field, skipper Julius Akpele put JCT in the lead, converting a rebound off the first corner of the match taken by Marcos Pereira in the 16th minute.

After delivering the initial blow, Akpele returned to his defence duties and it was here that Eduardo took over from his skipper. Another corner in the 30th minute, again by Pereira, and Assam Rifles goalkeeper Lokeswer Singh had no answers to Eduardo8217;s header.

The Assam team8217;s star striker Akum Ao got no escape route to get past the towering Akpele. The first shot at the JCT goal came after 32 minutes of play and that too sailed way over the bar.

There was no respite for the Assam team even after the breather. Their captain Naoba Singh compounded his team8217;s agony by conceding a penalty after a reckless charge on Praveen Kumar in the 52nd minute. And Eduardo made no mistake in making it 3-0. Another defensive error in the 66th minute fetched JCT a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the box.

It was a night where Eduardo could not have put a foot wrong. His rasping shot found the top right corner of the post, past a lunging Lokeswar Singh, completing his hat-trick.

Eduardo delivered the knock-out punch in the 88th minute, scoring off an opportunity presented by Lokeswar Singh, who failed to collect a weak shot from the striker and the Brazilian made no mistake in making it 5-0.

Earlier, Salgaocar8217;s strike duo of Felix Chimaokwu and Malswamtlunga provided Viva Kerala defenders a fair idea of things to expect in the coming football season.

The team from the southern state only managed sporadic attempts on goal as Salgaocar enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the first quarter of play.

Skipper Rocus Lamare freed Anil Kumar on the left wing and a cut back to centre found Jerose Oliviera, who passed to Malswamtlunga on the right edge of the box. He had time to chest the ball down, before firing a volley, which flew past Purushothaman TG in the Viva goal.

And the goal in a way exposed the inexperience of the Kerala team. The Goans doubled their lead after two of Viva8217;s midfielders got in each other8217;s way, allowing Malswamtlunga to run down the left flank with the ball before passing to Felix inside the box. The African beat defender Irungbam Kelemba Singh before tucking it home.

They were soon 3-0 up with the help of a stunning left-footer from Nicholas Rodrigues of a free-kick from outside the area.

Viva Kerala managed to get on the score-sheet when an attempted cross from the left flank by substitute Saikhom Santa Singh found the top corner of the net. At the other end, Salgaocar put the finishing touches on a good day8217;s work when Felix centred for Malswamtlunga, who found the net in the 90th minute.

RESULTS: Salgaocar: 4 Shylo Malswamtlunga 158217;, 908217;, Nigerian Felix Chimaokwu 388217;, Nicholas Rodrigues 408217; beat Viva Kerala: 1 Saikhom Santa Singh 73rd. JCT: 5 Eduardo 308217;, 528217;, 668217;, 888217;, Julius Akpele 168217; beat Assam Rifles 0 Thursday8217;s matches: Dempo vs IAF Delhi; Air India vs ND Heroes