Kolkata: Football’s return to Manipur could not have savoured better than a win for Neroca, playing their first ever home match in the I-League. The ‘Highlanders’ kept it late to round off a hard fought 2-1 win over Chennai City at the Khuman Lampak main Stadium in Imphal. Substitue Ronald Singh scored the winning goal in the second minute of extra time after Kallon Kiatamba and Jean Joachim’s goals made it 1-1 for both the sides.
Playing at home infront of a packed stadium, the debutants got off to a positive start but it was Chennai who came to close to scoring in the opening minutes. Captain Soosairaj who has been the most impressive player for the Coimbatore based outfit, once again led from the front attacking with much intent, eventually earning a penalty in the 18th minute. But Brazilian Murilo Almeida’s lame shot was easily saved by the opposite skipper Lalit Thapa.
The ‘Men in Orange’ however didn’t miss scoring from their first chance, a corner. Thangjam Singh’s floated free-kick was headed in by Kiatamba after Chennai goalkeeper Govin Singh failed to clear the ball with a feeble punch.
The goal seemed to have acted as a wake up call for the visitors, who build up more pressure on the home team winning back-to-back corners, but lacked the final quality ball which hinderd their progress manging just 2 shots on target, out of the total 13 they hit on goal, in the first-half.
The introduction of Mashoor in-place of Charles Anandraj, changed the tides in favour of Chennai, who used the wings to haunt the Neroca defence. The 64th minute saw Joachim net his third goal of the competition fed by Soosairaj. The French striker’s first touch that beat a defender was a joy to the eye, before he half-turned to rifle a bullet into the net and equalise for the away side.
Desperate for a win and backed by a football frenzy crowd, Raikhan send in both Sushil Kumar Singh and Ronald Singh into the mix asking his boys to go out on full attacks in the final 10 minutes and it paid off.
Vulnerable on set-pieces, Chennai conceded once again form a corner. The ball was parried away by Polijanec in the path of Glen Williams, who floated it back to the opposition D, which was put into the net by substitute Ronald Singh, bringing a much needed win for the I-League debutants.
The victory also propelled Neroca to the fourth position above Kolkata giants East Bengal, while Chennai linger in the bottom low position.