I-League 2nd Division 2018: Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC win, Fateh Hyderabad down FC Goa
Twelve Teams were in action on Saturday in the I-League 2nd Division, resulting in 20 goals being scored across the six matches. Sportskeeda brings you the day's round-up of the matches in the second tier of Indian Football.
MATCH 1: TRAU FC 1-2 Bengaluru FC Reserves
Bengaluru FC got off to a good start as Myron Sezie Mendes put the Blues ahead on the eighth-minute mark. The first half was dominated by the Blues without much pressure from the Imphal-based side. The second half continued in similar fashion as, Mendes scored his second on the 59th minute to put Bengaluru FC 2-0 ahead.
Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) shifted gears late in the final third and reduced the deficit to 1-2 through a Princewill Olariche Emeka at the 79th minute. TRAU piled up immense pressure in the end, but the resilient Blues defence held them to clinch a hard-fought win.
MATCH 2: Real Kashmir 3-3 Hindustan FC
Real Kashmir went ahead in as early as five minutes through Kouassi Yao. The Kashmiri side doubled their lead through Atinder Mani at the half-hour mark. The Kashmiri side continued their dominance early in the second half with a third goal from Ifham Tariq Mir.
Just as Hindustan FC were looking like they were well out of the game, the Delhi-based side made an unforeseen comeback with three goals in quick succession through Pawan Pratap Singh (59'), Pushpender Kundu (66') and Amestrong Alexandre (76') to earn a very important point.
MATCH 3 : Madhya Bharat SC 0-3 Kerala Blasters Reserves
Sahal Abdul Samad put the Blasters ahead in 25th minute. Samad doubled the lead three minutes later to put the Blasters 2-0 ahead. Madhya Bharat SC were dealt another blow just before the break as Shaiborlang Kharpan scored to put the Blasters Reserves 3-0 ahead before the break.
Madhya Bharat kept on piling the pressure, hoping to get back at least on level terms, but the Blasters defence held on.
MATCH 4 : FC Goa Reserves 1-4 Fateh Hyderabad AFC
Sushil Meitei put Fateh Hyderabad ahead on the half-hour mark. Godwin Quashinga scored to make it 2-0 for the Hyderabad side at the cusp of halftime. Hitova Ayemi found the back of the net in the 55th minute and made it 3-0, thus putting Fateh Hyderabad well into the driver's seat.
Lalawmpuia pulled one back for FC Goa Reserves in the 57th minute. Edmund Peprah squared off the game with Fateh Hyderabad's fourth goal of the day late into the additional time before the final whistle.
MATCH 5: Chennaiyin FC Reserves 1-0 Langsning FC
The game was largely a cagey affair with Langsning FC dominating the major course of the game, but the Chennaiyin Reserves successfully absorbed all of the pressure and capitalized on their lone chance of the game to go 1-0 ahead in the 68th minute through Bedeshwor Singh.
The Youngster's sole goal was enough for the Machans to register their first win of the season.
MATCH 6: Jamshedpur FC Reserves 1-1 Mohammedan SC
Two early goals from Prakash Naik (4') and Cho Tshering Lepcha (5') for Jamshedpur FC Reserves and Mohammedan SC respectively resulted in both the East Indian teams splitting points in Jamshedpur.
NEXT FIVE FIXTURES
April 22: Lonestar Kashmir vs Delhi United
April 23: Delhi Dynamos Reserves vs FC Pune City Reserves
April 25: Bengaluru FC Reserves vs Langsning
April 25: Chennaiyin FC Reserves vs Mohammedan SC
April 26: Lonestar Kashmir vs Real Kashmir