Durand Cup Semifinals: Neroca FC outclass DSK shivajians 3-0

by Chittu Shetty September 9, 2016

Neroca FC outclass lackluster DSK Shivajians 3-0 to script history as they become first North Eastern side to enter the Durand Cup finals

Tournaments Favorites DSK Shivajians started the game against Neroca FC with good disciplined football with a fix plan seemed ready for the game as their captain Juan Quero Barraso created few openings up front. The team kept their attacks mostly through flanks with long aerial passes in search of strikers but failed to keep them accurate.

While Neroca FC took their time to settle down for a certain period of time before letting loose their attack on the opposition. In the 34th minute against the run of play, Subhash Singh was brought down by Rohit Kumar inside the penalty box with Sushil slotting home in the resulting penalty taking the lead 1-0. The goal seemed to fire up the Neroca’s spirit as they didn’t sit back and defend but went for offensive and kill the game.

Leading 1-0 at half time the Manipur side looked to go all out for a winner and soon got their reward in form of a beautiful volley by Malemnganba Meitei in the 64^th minute. With 2-0 down Pune side looked to get their attack together but couldn’t beat the Neroca FC defense.

Also Read: Durand Cup Semifinal: Army Green edge past Aizawl FC in Penalty shootout

Introduction of North Korean Kim Song Yong for Barraso didn’t make any differences with the striker failing a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit in an open chance only to hit it over. The pune side was terrible at the final end as they missed many chances, failing to find any combination among its players.

Neroca in the 3^rd minute of added time rubbed more insult to injury with a third goal with Anand Kumar finishing off a well orchestrated move.

With this victory in the semifinal, Neroca FC becomes the first team from the North East to reach the Finals of Asia’s oldest and world’s third oldest football tournament on Sunday.

Result: Neroca FC 3 (Sushil Kumar Singh 34’, Malemnganba Meitei 64’, Anand Kumar Singh 90+2) beat DSK Shivajians 0.