Kalyani (West Bengal) [India]March 8 (ANI): NEROCA FC defeated TRAU FC 2-0 to play the Imphal derby at Kalyani Stadium, here on Monday in the I-League.
TRAU has not had a memorable season until now, with a draw against the Indian Arrows and a 3-1 loss against Sreenidi Deccan before this match. NEROCA FC, on the other hand, has had a very contrasting start to the 2021-22 season with a 3-2 win against Sreenidi Deccan and a draw in the second match week against Gokulam Kerala FC.
Red Pythons started the match on the up and got a free kick in the fifth minute of the match. Fernandinho pushed in from the left, but NEROCA’s defense was strong enough to clear it away immediately.
The first goal of the match came in the thirty-seventh minute of the match as Mohammad Kdouh when he nodded in a post from midfielder Sweden Fernandes in the net to give NEROCA the lead. TRAU had a chance to equalize in the fifth minute of stoppage time in the first half when they got an indirect free kick but could not convert.
The half ended with NEROCA holding the edge in a close deal between the two Imphal-based clubs.
The second half started with TRAU desperately wanting to take something out of this game and NEROCA was looking for another goal to kill the match. Douglas Santana had a fantastic opportunity to put TRAU up another goal 50 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar.
With TRAU missing chances, NEROCA grew into the match and in the seventy-fifth minute of the match, Juan Mera produced a sublime finish in the upper corner to double the lead for NEROCA.
TRAU tried many times but it looked like it was not their day. The match ended with NEROCA beating 2-0 and moving to third place in the table with seven points. At the same time, TRAU, who will take a very positive view of the game, will now have to focus on the fourth game week where they face tough opposition in Churchill Brothers. (ANI)