Lajong remain on ninth place
I-League Round 10
Margao: Gabonese striker Henri Arnaud Autchouet scored a hattrick to put Churchill Brothers on top of the table as they hammered Shillong Lajong FC 6-0 in the 10th round of the I-League played at Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.
Churchill who led 2-0 at half time scored through Roberto Silva (29th), Lalrindika Ralte (34th), ND Opara (48th) and Henri (53rd, 66th, 80th).
Churchill who knew that a win would take them to the top spot for the first time displacing Dempo, started right in earnest and made series of moves into the rival half but the visitors matched their rivals in the first half an hour and put up a stout display with their defenders giving no room for Churchill duo Henri and Opara to operate.
Henri Arnaud Autchouet had two chances to put his team ahead but the striker fumbled in front of the goal as first keeper Soram Poirei Anganba came out to block his shot and latter he shot out from hand-shaking distance.
After these close shaves, Lajong conceded a penalty in the 29th minute when defender Lallchhuanmawia brought down Roberto Silva from behind as he was dangerously moving with the ball inside the box.
The resultant penalty was converted by Roberto himself beating the rival keeper to his right.
Lalrindika Ralte than increased the lead in the 34th minute when he essayed a shot from top of the box off a pass from Henri to find the roof of the net to have Churchill leading 2-0 at half time.
There was no stopping for Churchill after the change of ends as the visitors surrendered meekly as they found the combination of Henri and Opara too hot to handle and with good support from Roberto and Lalrindika Churchill, pumped four more goals with Henri scoring a hat rick.
Following a combined move between Henri and Opara on the right saw the former relay the ball to Opara who despatch an angular drive that found the net in the 48th minute.
That opened the floodgates and Henri who was the thorn in the flesh to the rivals then scored a hatrick to give Churchill a resounding win.
First, Lalrindika played a square pass on top of the box for Henri who despatched the ball underneath the keeper’s legs into the net.
Ten minutes later Lajong was reduced to ten men when referee Rusherkanti Guha red carded keeper Soram Poirei Anganba for bringing down Roberto Silva dangerously from behind inside the box.
Opara who took the penalty failed to beat substitute keeper Lalthuammawia Ralte who dived to his left and put out Opara shot.
Henri who missed at least three clear chances then scored two more goals to score his first hatrick.
Leny Rodrigues from the middle put a through pass to Henri who sprinted into the box and took an angular shot that found the net.
Henri than scored his hatrick when he scored off a cross from Steven Dias from the right.
Churchill Brothers with today’s victory moved on top of the table with 23 points from ten matches, displacing Dempo who have 21 points from 9 matches.
Shillong Lajong remained on ninth place from 12 points from as many matches. (PTI)