Margao Gabonese striker Henri Autchouet scored a hat-trick to put Churchill Brothers on top of the table as they hammered Shillong Lajong FC 6-0 in the 10th round of the I-League played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Saturday.
The comfortable victory helped Churchill take their tally to 23 points, two more than Dempo Sports Club, who have a match in hand against Air India on Sunday.
Churchill, who led 2-0 at half-time, scored through Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes da Silva (29th), Lalrindika Ralte (34th), ND Buisi Opara (48th)and Henri (53rd, 66th, 80th).
Churchill were a far superior side and it was evident early in the game, when the hosts controlled the proceedings amicably and Lajong gave away the ball far too easily.
The Goan side knew a win would take them to the top spot for the first time, displacing Dempo, and they started in right earnest and made series of moves into the rival half. But the visitors matched their hosts in the first half an hour and put up a gritty display, with their defenders giving no room for Churchill duo Henri and Opara to operate.
Henri had two chances to put his team ahead but the striker fumbled in front of the goal as first 'keeper Soram Poirei Anganba came out to block his shot and later he shot out from hand-shaking distance.
After these close shaves, Lajong conceded a penalty in the 29th minute when defender Wailadmi Passah tripped Beto from behind inside the danger zone as he was dangerously moving with the ball. The resultant penalty was converted by Roberto himself, beating the rival keeper to his right.
Lalrindika Ralte then increased the lead in the 34th minute when he grabbed a ball just outside the box and majestically curled a shot into the top corner of the nets, to have Churchill leading 2-0 at half-time.
There was no stopping for Churchill after the change of ends as the visitors surrendered meekly, finding the combination of Henri and Opara too hot to handle. With good support from Roberto and Lalrindika, Churchill pumped four more goals as Henri scored a second-half hat-trick, his first in the competition.
A combined move between Henri and Opara on the right saw the former relay the ball to Opara, who dispatched an angular drive that found the net in the 48th minute.
That opened the floodgates and Henri, who was a constant thorn in the flesh of his rivals, gave Churchill a resounding win.
First, Lalrindika played a square pass on top of the box for Henri, who dispatched the ball underneath the 'keeper's legs into the net.
What seemed bad going for Lajong got worse in the 62nd minute when Churchill won another penalty. Lajong were reduced to 10 men when referee Rusherkanti Guha gave marching orders to 'keeper Soram Poirei Anganba for a tackle from behind on Beto inside the box. Opara, who took the penalty, failed to beat substitute keeper Lalthuammawia Ralte, who dived to his left to effect a save.
A few minutes later, though, Lalthuammawia could do nothing as Henri, who missed at least three clear chances, was allowed a free run inside the box to hammer Churchill’s fifth goal.
Leny Rodrigues from the middle put a through pass to Henry, who sprinted into the box and took an angular shot that found the net. Henry then put home a cross Steven Dias from the right.
Shillong Lajong remained on ninth place with 12 points from 10 matches.
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