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The match between Kalighat and Vasco on Friday. (Bhola Prasad)
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Kalighat Milan Sangha on Friday booked a spot in the 34th Federation Cup by defeating Goa-based Vasco SC 4-1 at Jamshedpur’s JRD Tata Sports Complex.
The Calcutta-based outfit, which always looked the best side in the qualifiers, showed class on the turf to make quick work of their struggling opponents who were playing their first match.
Kalighat went on the attack from the word go with James Gbilee finding the back of the goal’s net as early as the 3rd minute.
The goal swung the momentum in the outfit’s favour with quick footed Christophar Chizoba — who scored a hat trick during the team’s opening match against Royal Wahingdoh on Wednesday — doubling the lead in the 28th minute with a swift right footer.
Chizoba put his name on the score sheet again in the 41st minute by netting his second and seeing that his team went in to the lemon break with a healthy 3-0 lead.
Vasco’s lack of co-ordination continued in the second half as well, with Kalighat players making forays in their opponent’s territory with ease. Kalighat skipper Tanmoy Kundu netted a fourth for his team in the very opening minute of the second half to put the match well beyond the reach of Vasco right after halftime.
The Goan side, who otherwise are known to thrive and excel under pressure, went into a shell with poor passes and defence lapses being the highlight of their game on Friday.
The only silver lining for Vasco during the rain soaked match probably was Lezly Fernandez, who managed to pull a consolation goal back for his team in the 69th minute.
The Kalighat boys qualified for the Federation Cup with six points in their kitty from two outings.
The Calcutta team had started their quest for a Federation Cup berth on a high beating Royal Wahingdoh 6-0 in the first match.
“We are very happy with the win. The boys were confident throughout and displayed good co-ordination throughout. There was no pressure on them and they played their natural game,” said coach of the Kalighat unit Arun Ghosh.
He added that they would try and play to their best potential in Siliguri.
Vasco SC coach Richard Sanchez, however, blamed the slush for his team’s loss.
“We had come here well prepared. But the conditions put paid to our efforts. My boys could not adjust to the slippery conditions. Moreover, we have formed a new outfit for this tourney as most of our experienced players had left us,” he said.
Siliguri will host the Group B and C matches of the tournament while teams in Group A and D will play their matches in Jamshedpur.
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