2nd Division I-League: Southern Samity, NEROCA FC cruise into final round
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies

Kolkata, February 25 2017: Southern Samity made the final round of second division I-League with a dramatic 3-2 win over Hindustan FC on Saturday but Mohammedan Sporting crashed out following their 1-1 draw at Neroca FC.

In Group B, both Southern Samity and Mohammedan Sporting went into their respective final-round match with nine points from five matches, although the former had had a better goal difference (+1) .

Both teams needed win to assure themselves of reaching the final round.

Ranjan Chowdhury's Mohammedan Sporting, however, had a difficult challenge on hand given that the match was played at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal where hosts Neroca had never lost a second division I-League match since making their debut in 2015.The Manipuri side lost the first leg to Mohammedan Sporting at Barasat but have been in an all-conquering run since then.

The hosts needed a draw to qualify.

With odds stacked against them and needing nothing but a win to stay in contention, Mohammedan Sporting made their job more difficult when Neroca took the lead on the half-an-hour mark through Ajiogu Chinedu Emmanuel.

Although Leonce Dodoz, who came in place of Lancine Toure in the second half, struck the equalizer in the 83rd minute, it was never enough for Mohammedan Sporting to keep their hopes alive.

Neroca finished as group-toppers with 13 points and would be joined by Southern Samity (who finished a point behind) in the final round.

At the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, Southern Samity also had their task cut out in an away test.

But, unlike Mohammedan Sporting, veteran Ashim Biswas gave them the lead in the 30th minute.

Although Hindustan FC equalized through Tushar Chowdhury within eight minutes, Nigerian Kalu Ogba restored Southern Samity's lead on the stroke of halftime.

In a scintillating, no-holds-barred second half, hosts Hindustan FC rode Nitesh Sharma's goal to make it 2-2 in the 72nd minute.

But Southern Samity had the last laugh when Basanta Singh struck the match-winner in the 79th minute to hand Southern Samity the victory and passage to the final round.

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