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ONGC FC recovered from a goal’s deficit to trounce qualifier Kalighat Milan Sangha 5-1 in the opening group-C league of the 34th Federation Cup at the Kanchanjungha Stadium in Siliguri.
Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa and Nigerian Keshukwu Onyema shared four goals while Sachin Gawas struck once to complete ONGC’s tally. Kalighat MS went ahead with James Giblee’s early goal before ONGC started its blitz.
The Kolkata-based Kalighat MS, which moved into the main round with an all-win record in the qualifiers, dominated the initial exchanges and utilised the advantage finding an early lead.
Just as ONGC took time to come in terms with the heavy ground condition, Kalighat MS sought the early goal off its new recruit James Giblee, who complimented a midfield assist in the 15th minute.
Stunned by the early setback ONGC regrouped its attack and began making effective sorties at the opposition territory by the half-hour mark. Sachin Gawas fetched the equaliser in the 31st minute picking up a pass from the centre of the park. This marked the turnaround for the Mumbai-based team which found the lead in the 37th minute when Gawas set up a fine cross across the Kalighat MS goalmouth for Onyema to slot home. Making nice off-the-ball runs in the Kalighat MS box, Onyema reached under a smart chip from Yusa and diverted the ball home to make it 3-1 for ONGC at Half-time.
Coming back after the break Yusa donned a more attacking role for ONGC. With Onyema replaced midway in the second half, the Japanese attacking midfielder moved up to enhance the ONGC scoreline after playing a nice one-two-one with his midfield colleague, Sorabuddin Mollik, in the 80th minute. As Kalighat continued to fumble with an unsettled defence, ONGC enhanced its tally with Yusa finding his second goal in the 88th minute.
