Second Division League : TRAU drub lowly Chennaiyin FC 4-0 to ensure final round berth
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 09 2018:
Tiddim Road Athletic Union produced another brilliant performance to thrash Chennaiyin FC 4-0 in their fourth home tie of the ongoing Second Division League organised by All India Football Federation, at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today.
With this win, TRAU who are standing on top of group C league table with 20 points from 9 matches, have ensured their place in the final round of the league competition.
The home team led the first half 1-0 through a goal Ronald Singh.
Playing in the heavy rain with 4-4-2 formation, the local side did not find any unfamiliarity at the home ground though the rivals also came up with some scored by Reisangmei Vashum while the other three goal came in the dying minutes of the match through Soraisam Sandeep, Kshetrimayum Malemnganba Meitei and Saikhom tough challenge in the first half.
Reisangmei Vashum and Malemnganba Meitei staged some impacting runs while Milan and Ngangbam Ngaocha did their job well in the left and the right flanks.
After few blunt attempts, TRAU got the opener in the 19th minute when Reisangmei Vashum inside the box got to an end of a cross set by Milan from the left flank and tapped in past Chennaiyin's custodian Samik Mitra.
Though the rain soaked ground greatly hampered the play, the Chennai side also came up too close on multiple occasions but luck did not favoured them and could not open up throughout the match.
Desperate to restore parity, Aman Chetri, who was leading the attacking third for Chennaiyin FC was yellow carded for his rash challenge in the 28th minute before being sent off in the 86th minute with another yellow reducing him team to a 10 man army.
Looking for more, TRAU kept the momentum intact and in the process Malemnganba who acted injured in the goal-mouth was caught cheating by the referee who did not hesitated in showing him the yellow card in the 36th minute after defender Sandeep Soraisam was awarded yellow in the 32nd minute.
The fair portion of the second half went lull but the impetus remained with TRAU, who brought in Saikhom Ronald Singh in place of Laishram Milan Singh in the 71st minute.
It were in the 80th and the 81st minute that Sandeep Soraisam and Malemnganba Meitei netted one goal back to back calling for double celebration.
Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, Saikhom Ronald rose from the left flank before sneaking into the rivals' box in the 87th minute of the match and banged in the last goal to hand his team a 4-0 victory against Chennaiyin FC who were also beaten 2-1 at their home last month.
TRAU will be hosting Langsning FC, who are currently third in the group table with 15 points from 9 matches, next on April 13 at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium.
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