Mahindra move to top spot after demolishing Lajong 5-0

Hosts Mahindra United moved to the top of the I-League with a 5-0 demolition of North-East club Shillong Lajong in the round 10 clash at the Cooperage on Friday.

Paresh Shivalkar (9th and 14th) and Muritala Ali (50th and 57th) scored a brace each while Mohd Rafi (35th) also registered his name on the score sheet, but the hero of the day was winger Steven Dias, whose magnificent crosses set up the first two goals for the hosts.

With this win Mahindra United have 20 points in 10 matches, and are followed by Dempo Sports Club and Chirag United, who have 18 points from nine matches each.

The Federation Cup finalists looked sharp in the first few minutes, but it was Mahindra who took the lead. Shivalkar headed a Dias' cross from the right to set the goal spree for the hosts.

The Shivalkar-Dias combination, which had set up Mahindra's dramatic victory against Sporting Club De Goa on Sunday, repeated their heroics within five minutes.

Rafi ran in with the ball from the middle and finding himself covered by a defender left it to be picked up by Dias whose low cross from the right was headed in yet again by Shivalkar. The last of three attacks in as many minutes resulted in the third goal for the hosts.

Rafi capitalised on a defensive lapse on the part of the visitors to smash a left-footer as Mahindra went into half-time leading 3-0.

The match was just a formality from here on as the hosts further piled on the misery for the visitors through two early second-half goals by Muritala Ali.

Ali converted a penalty after being brought down by Lajong's Zohmingliana Ralte, who was injured during the tackle and had to be substituted by Romeo Sukhlain.

Seven minutes later, he did well to first lob the ball over the defender's head, after receiving a cross from Debrata Roy, and them smash it past the goal keeper from the left. 

After the fifth goal, Mahindra coach David Booth called back Shivalkar, Rafi and Dias, who hurt himself after a bad fall.

Lajong brought in Wailadmi Passah for Laldingliana Khiangte and Rohmingthanga for Niwan O Gatphoh in the second half but could only create a few chances that too not close enough to threaten Mahindra.