Babatunde scores double hat trick
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Babatunde’s double hat trick took Ar-Hima to the quarterfinal of the 22nd All India Meghalaya Invitation Football Tournament as they thrashed Green Valley, Assam 9-0 in the pre-quarter final match at First Division Ground, Polo here on Tuesday.
Ar-Hima dominated the proceedings from the word go. The club from Shillong went to into lead in the third minute of the match after Restom Khriam scored a stunner following an excellent cross by Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Okoye. Five minutes later, Ar-Hima striker Babatunde made it 2-0 for his team. Babatunde scored his second goal in the 16th minute to give Ar-Hima a thumping 3-0 lead. Kyrshan Lyngshing scored the fourth goal in the 19th minute while Babatunde completed his hat trick in the 27th minute as the home side led 5-0. Bansharai Sunn carried the scoring spree forward for Ar-Hima when he scored in the 41st minute.
Ar-Hima continued their dominance in the second half with Babatunde scoring his fourth for the match in the 64th minute followed by another goal in the 73rd minute. Babatunde who had an excellent run scored his sixth goal in the 79th minute to guide Ar-Hima to a 9-0 win against Green Valley.
Earlier, in the day, SSB, Siliguri defeated Ganga SC by a solitary goal to make it to the quarterfinal.
On Wednesday, Langsning SC would take on Punjap Police in the last pre-quarter final knock out matches at 11.30 am. Meanwhile, the first quarterfinal of the tournament wouldbe played between Tata Football Academy and MLPFT at 2 pm.