Chidi’s hat-trick gives East Bengal a 4-1 victory over Salgaocar FC

Kolkata giant East Bengal broke their ‘not so good’ track record against Goan side Salgaocar FC at their home ground, as yesterday they got a huge 4-1 victory over David Booth’s Salgaocar. For the last two years, East Bengal had never won a single match against Salgaocar at their home ground. In fact, in the last three seasons, Salgaocar had repeatedly beaten East Bengal at their home ground. Before yesterday’s match, East Bengal’s biggest challenge was to change their track record at Goa and they did it, thanks to their striker Edeh Chidi, who scored a brilliant hat-trick against the Goan brigade. Another goal was scored by Robin Singh.

It was the Goan side who scored the first goal of yesterday’s match. Marcus Mascarenhas scored the only goal for Salgaocar in the 9th minute. Chidi equalized for East Bengal in the 35th minute with a bullet of a strike. The first half ended 1-1.

In the second half, it was completely one-way traffic, as East Bengal boosted up their attack. Very soon, after the break, Salgaocar custodian Karanjeet Singh saved a strike from Chidi. In the 59th minute, East Bengal scored their second goal, as Robin Singh sweetly struck a close range volley, passed by Penn Orji. Chidi scored his second goal in the 65th minute. The Nigerian goal-machine completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, as he guided the ball superbly into the net just outside from the penalty box.

With this hat-trick, Chidi is now in second place in the highest goal-scorer list, just after Prayag’s Ranti Martins, who scored 15 goals in this I-league so far. East Bengal now has 27 points from 13 games and they move up to third spot in the league table. Churchill Brothers and Pune FC are now in the top position with 28 points. Salgaocar is very much now in the relegation zone as they have only 10 points from 12 matches in this I-league.