Salgaocar crush FC Kochin

However, after a blistering start, Salgaocar had to wait until the 59th minute to draw first blood. Coutinho struck to put the Goans ahead. Jules Alberto made it 2-0 two minutes later before substitute Shabbir Ali Mondal rounded off the tally in injury time.

A red card to mid-fielder K Noushad for a second booking added to FC Kochin’s misery. After a foul in the first half on Salgaocar’s stopper Lawrence, Noushad’s vicious tackle on wing-back DC Nathaniel prompted referee Krishnan to flash a second yellow and an automatic red.

Salgaocar did the early running on resumption. FC Kochin threatened briefly with Noushad attempting to score with a header. But the Goans grabbed the match by the scruff when Coutinho punished goalkeeper A Naseem Akhtar.

The hard working Venkatesh found the former India skipper who squeezed his shot between Akhtar and the near post. It was then time for Nathaniel to be rewarded for a consistent and telling display today.

Returning from injury, the wing-back floated the ball upfield yet again. Jules Alberto delivered the coup d grace in style — using the outstep of a left-footer to dispatch home via the far post. Akhtar could only watch.

With time running out, Mondal volleyed into the net after Venkatesh lobbed over the hapless Akhtar in a move from the left.

Bagan humbled

Churchill Brothers thrilled 25,000 fans with a comprehensive 2-0 win over defending champions Mohun Bagan in a match played later under floodlights.

Striker Somatai Shaiza struck a goal in each half, the second into injury time, to punish the Calcutta side’s errors.

Although the strikes will do much to restore the diminutive striker’s confidence this season, Churchill’s tower of strength again today was Ghanian goalkeeper Edward Ansah. The burly custodian broke Bagan’s resolve with an efficient and spectacular show as much as the 16th minute goal did.

Shaiza slammed the goal into an open net after a brutally simple pass from Philip Mensah found the Bagan ‘keeper stranded in no-man’s land following a flag-kick.

Further demoralised by an aggravated injury to star striker IM Vijayan, who made way for Nigerian Adebayo Badebo in the second half, Bagan never ever got it right. Misery upon misery as the match entered stoppage time for the Calcuttans. A quick counter found Shaiza drive the ball in from substitute striker Cyril Baretto’s pass — helped on its way by Bagan’s Kenyan defender Omollo, who deflected in after Dora had blocked.