I-League: ONGC return to winning ways

NEW DELHI: The recent appointment of coach Santosh Kashyap and inspired performances by strikers Yusa Katsumi and Eric Brown paid handsome dividends for ONGC when they beat Shillong Lajong 3-0 in an I-League match at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday. This defeat ended Lajong's four-match unbeaten streak.
Delhi-based ONGC have struggled to win on the road and this would come as a huge boost."I took charge of the team three days ago and my strategy was to attack. We beat a very good team today. Targets should be realistic and our current objective is to be in the top 7," said Kashyap, who was sacked by Mohun Bagan in October.
Nigerian Eric Brown broke the ice in the 19th minute when he slammed home a right-footer, latching on to a beautifully-delivered cross from the right by Sachin Gawas.
ONGC's disciplined defence and alert goalkeeping by Rahenesh helped them quell Lajong's adventurous intentions.
After changeover, ONGC doubled their lead in the 49th minute when Japanese import Katsumi's solo effort on the counter earned them the insurance. To make matters worse for the visitors, Katsumi and Brown's intelligent exchange of passes split the Lajong defence wide open. Katsumi killed the contest with a clinical finish.
"I wasn't too happy with the defence," lamented Lajong coach Desmond Bulpin.
This win serves as a happy welcome for Kashyap as ONGC moved out of the relegation zone. They have 10 points from 12 matches. Lajong on the other hand, with 13 points, stayed put at 8th.
In other matches, Pune FC took recorded a convincing 3-1 win over Prayag United SC while Joacquim Abranches scored one goal in each half as Dempo SC posted a facile 2-1 win over Pailan Arrows.