Kolkata, July 31: Samaleswari Sporting bounced back from their opening defeat in style with a commanding 4-1 victory over Durand Cup debutants Baghpat FC in a Group B match of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Thursday.
After suffering a narrow loss in their first outing, the Odisha-based side produced an impressive attacking display to register their first win of the campaign and keep their qualification hopes alive. Baghpat, meanwhile, slumped to their second successive defeat.
Marat Tareck gave Samaleswari an early lead before Crispin C. Cleetus levelled with a stunning long-range strike for Baghpat. Goals from Gnohere Krizo and a second-half brace by Basit Ahmed Bhat, however, sealed a comfortable victory for the Odisha outfit.
Both teams adopted a 4-4-2 formation and wasted little time in searching for an opener. Samaleswari struck in the 10th minute through a swift counterattack. Rashid M. raced down the right flank before picking out Krizo inside the box. Although his close-range effort was saved by goalkeeper Ayan Bhattacharya, the rebound fell kindly to Tareck, who tapped home into an empty net.
Baghpat responded positively and restored parity on the half-hour mark. Piyush Sikarwar laid the ball into the path of Crispin Cleetus, whose powerful left-footed effort from outside the penalty area flew into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Aaryan Anjaneya with no chance.
The scores remained level until first-half stoppage time when Samaleswari regained the advantage in fortunate fashion. Basit Ahmed Bhat’s deep free-kick into the penalty area struck Krizo on the thigh before looping over the stranded goalkeeper and into the net, giving Samaleswari a 2-1 lead at the break.
The Odisha side took complete control after the restart.
Basit extended the lead in the 56th minute, meeting substitute Veer Arjun Joshi’s corner with a composed finish from close range. Five minutes later, he completed his brace after another set-piece move. A short-corner routine between Joshi and fellow substitute Cris Nowang Sherpa ended with Sherpa delivering an inviting cross, which Basit met with a looping header to make it 4-1.
With a three-goal cushion, Samaleswari comfortably dictated possession and denied Baghpat any route back into the contest. The Odisha side even came close to adding a fifth in the closing stages when Armand Bazie unleashed a powerful long-range effort that drifted narrowly wide.
Samaleswari saw out the remaining minutes without alarm to record an emphatic victory, while Baghpat were left still searching for their first points of the tournament.
