Mohali: Northern India’s only representative in the I-League, Minerva Punjab extended their unbeaten streak to four matches, with an impressive 2-1 win over Chennai City at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana on Monday. Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the home team came back strongly after the break, scoring two in the space of 11 minutes through William Opoku and Kassim Aidara after Jean Michael Joachim had given Chennai the lead, five minutes into the match.
Playing their third consecutive away match, the men in green got a perfect start when Joachim scored the opening goal as early as the fifth minute. A Edwin Vanspaul free-kick saw Murilo Ribeiro pave the ball towards Jean and the French striker made no mistake from the close-range.
The goal however did not deter Minerva who looked confident despite going behind and nearly equalised 10 minutes later, but Chencho’s shot was kept out of goal by Chennai custodian Veniamin Shumeiko. Similar attacks followed but the away side held on. Deperate for an equaliser, coach Khogen Singh replaced Souvik with Amandeep at the stroke of half-hour, but still could not find the goal.
Resuming from the break, it took just three minutes for the ‘Warriors’ to find the net, when William Opoku scored. The 59th minute saw Minerva take the lead through Kassim Aidara. A well drilled pass by Chencho from the left-wing found Aidara and the Senegalese made no mistake rifling one into the net. The way side came close to pulling up a draw in the 69th minute, but Arshdeep Singh made a fine save to deny Murilo Ribeiro from a header.
The win also propelled the ‘Warriors’ to the pole position with 10 points having played a match more than second placed Mohun Bagan who accumulated nine points from three matches. Minerva next face AIFF developmental side Indian Arrows in the return fixture at home, a team they defeated 2-0 a week ago.