KALYANI: Bidyshagar Singh continued his scoring spree and led TRAU to a thumping 3-1 win over Real Kashmir FC at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium in Kalyani, West Bengal. Bidyashagar had scored a hat-trick against Mohammedan SC as well in TRAU’s last match and the nimble-footed forward continued his fine scoring form to inflict defeat on Real Kashmir, even after the Snow Leopards had pulled one goal back in the 24th minute.
Coming on the back of a thumping 4-0 win over Mohammedan SC, TRAU continued their fine attacking form against Real Kashmir FC as well. The Nandakumar-coached side could have taken the lead in less than five minutes in the match as chances by Komron Tursunov and Bidyashagar Singh were missed at close range. However, with attacking momentum heavily on their side, TRAU broke through the Real Kashmir FC defence in the 8th minute, but the Snow Leopards had only themselves to blame for conceding. A routine clearance was fluffed by Anuj Kumar and Bidyshagar Singh was there to capitalise on the error as he thumped home from close range.
The first real chance for Real Kashmir FC came in the 18th minute when Mason Robertson’s shot was deflected for a corner kick after the Snow Leopards launched a counter-attack that almost reaped dividends for them. Despite playing catch-up for much of the first half to TRAU, the Snow Leopards scored their equaliser in the 24th minute when Danish Farooq headed home from close range from a free-kick scenario, to make the scoreline read 1-1.
The attacking duo of Bidyashagar Singh and Komron Tursunov continued to trouble the Real Kashmir defence. And in the 37th minute, they combined to hand TRAU the lead once again. Bidyshagar Singh was played on goal by a Komron Tursunov pass and the nimble-footed forward slyly slotted the ball past an onrushing Anuj Kumar to make it 2-1.
Joseph Olaleye could have made it 3-1 for TRAU seconds before the half-time if he had not failed to find the net from hand-shaking distance, but as it stood TRAU led two goals to one at half-time.
After an electric first half where both teams had chances, the second turned into a cagey affair as both teams fought to gain attacking momentum by stitching passes. In the 54th minute, Real Kashmir tried to get the ball rolling through Lalrindika Ralte who tried to launch a bid to get the equaliser. Ralte’s delivery into the box was thwarted by TRAU’s goalkeeper.
In the 60th minute, Phalguni Singh found Joseph Olaleye inside the box with a well-weighted through ball. With ample space, Olaleye’s shot lacked the venom as it was hoofed away by the opposition defence. But perhaps the best chance of the half fell to Bidyashagar Singh in the 68th minute. The forward could have scored his hat-trick but his left-footed attempt from outside of the box went inches wide.
TRAU could have put the result to bed in the 79th minute when Joseph Olaleye’s attacking run resulted in him finding substitute Chanso Horam inside the box. However, from an extremely tight angle, Horam’s shot went inches wide of the goal.
Bidyashagar Singh sealed the deal for TRAU in the 85th minute when he bundled home from close range after Joseph Olaleye’s shot from inside the box caused havoc, resulting in Bidya taking advantage of a loose ball and slot home. The full-time scoreline read 3-1 in TRAU’s favour as they move to 22 points from 11 matches.
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