S Venkatesh scored in each half to guide Federation Cup champion Mahindra United to a thumping 5-0 win over Mohammedan Sporting to take a clear four-point lead over their nearest rival East Bengal and keep thems on course for the title in the 10th National Football League, played at Nehru stadium, in Margao on Friday.
Mahindras, which led 1-0 at half time, scored through Venkatesh (stoppage time of first half and 68th minute) and one each through Yusif Yakubu (54) Rauf Khan (74th) and K Annes (83rd).
Mahindras, who are leading the table with 32 points from 14 Matches, now needs only three points from remaining three matches to clinch the title.
Kolkata club Mohmmedian Sporting remained on 14 points from 15 matches.
Mahindras started off aggressively piling pressure on their opponent mostly from the right but could not take early lead as they met stiff resistance from keeper Arindam Ghosh, who brought off saves of Surojit Bose, Venkatesh and Sushant Mathew.
Mahindra's effort bore fruit as they took the lead in the injury time of the first half through Venkatesh who beat Ghosh from close.
Mohammedan, who is fighting relegation, came up with couple of swift moves and nearly scored in the 19th minute but Satyajit Bose directed his header over the bar off a cross by Jiten Rai.
Changing over, Mahindras increased the lead in the 54th minute after Yusuf Yakubu, accepting a pass from Deepak Mondal, uncorked a 30-yard shot that beat Arindam all ends to find the far post, to give Yokubu his tenth goal.
Venkatesh then increased the tally for the jeepmen with a 30-yard shot in the 68th minute.
Rauf Khan than put the match beyond the reach of the Kolkata club with a long ranger in the 73rd minute before K Annes rounded off the tally in the 83th minute.
© 2024 Rediff.com -