New Delhi: After three consecutive goalless draws, Mahindra United produced a dominant performance at the Cooperage Stadium to thrash Vasco SC 4-0 and thus bring them a step closer to relegation.
The win takes Mahindra United to 21 points while Vasco SC continues to reel at 10 points at the bottom of the league table.
The home side started with Sushil Kumar and Chidi Edeh upfront while Vasco had Ravshan Tashabaev and Agnelo Colaco forming the forward line.
Red Devils took sometime to set their foot in the game and once they managed to do that, Vasco couldn’t stop them. The first chance when Steven Dias’ floater from the left was headed just wide by Sushil Kumar in the 11th minute.
Mohamed Rafi’s cross from the right wasn’t well controlled by Chidi Edeh three minutes later. The same combination combined again with the latter sending his header over the bar.
Around the hour mark, right back Sushant Matthew found his way into the box and his curler from inside the box went just wide.
But Sushant made amends for his miss with a pinpoint cross from the right in the 31st minute which saw Sushil Kumar slam the ball in. Vasco SC lost the plot and what followed was two goals in as many minutes.
Steven Dias’ long ball was latched onto by Mohamed Rafi as he beat goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani and slot it home from an acute angle.
Sukhwinder Singh’s through ball saw Chidi Edeh find the back of the net and add his name on the scoresheet. The Nigerian was guilty of missing another chance before the break as he took much time from a Douhou pass.
At the start of the second session, Vasco SC coach Elvis Goes brought on Jose Colaco for Elvino Fernandes while he shifted Ravshan Tashabaev on the right wing with Sherzod Nazarov going upfront.
Steven Dias’ cross from the right saw Sushil Kumar’s header at the far post being saved by Laxmikant Kattimani. The Goan side couldn’t hold onto the ball as it was a one way traffic throughout.
Mahindra United could have done better in the second session as they missed a number of opportunities while the desire to score more was missing.
It was Mohamed Rafi’s second goal of the match which showed that Vasco had resigned to their fate. Douhou’s ball to Mohamed Rafi saw the Kerala striker run on the left and thereby cut in to blast into the net.
The Jeepmen should have scored the fifth when Steven’s cross saw substitute Arata Izumi head the ball over the bar.
It was a good victory for Mahindra United ahead of their next big game against East Bengal while Vasco SC are surely on their way out.
Goalscorers Mahindra: Sushil Kumar (31stmin), Mohamed Rafi (35th and 76th mins) and Chidi Edeh (36th min)
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