THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Sterling Sanju leads FC Alakhpura to a 6-2 win over Aizawl FC

Sterling Sanju leads FC Alakhpura to a 6-2 win over Aizawl FC (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)

Sanju’s hattrick (16’, 46’, 64’) and strikes from Kavita Devi (21’) and Deepika (36’ and 85’) sank Aizawl FC’s ship with a glossy four goal margin as the ‘Girls in White’ ran out eventual winners, whilst giving a statement of their attacking prowess – scoring three goals in the first half and three in the second. Aizawl FC gave little competition to a dominant FC Alakhpura and the latter dictated proceedings for much of the match, giving little time on the ball to the former.

The warning bells for Aizawl FC ran as early as the 7th minute when Sanju outran her marker and unleashed a shot which ruffled feathers of the side-netting. And Sanju was at it again in the 16th minute when she sidestepped her marking defender and this time, blasted the ball into the back of the net to give Alakhpura the lead.

Five minutes later Kavita Devi tapped home from handshaking distance to double Alakhpura’s lead as the scoreline read 2-0. It seemed like a begging of a rout as FC Alakhpura pressed towards the goal with every passing second, while Aizawl FC playing the oppressor launched counter attacks.

An eye candy of a goal for FC Alakhpura in the 30th minute gave even further statement of their attacking instincts as Deepika made perfect contact with a cross and volleyed home to makes the scoreline read 3-0.

Although Aizawl FC pulled one goal back in the 36th minute through Lalbiak Diki, it had little effect on the overall complexion of the match as the half-time scoreline read 3-1.

Even in the second half Alakhpura gave little to no time to Aizawl FC to make a mark and Sanju’s goal in the 46th minute quelled any hopes of a dramatic comeback as FC Alakhpura once again took an unassailable three goal lead as the scoreline read 4-1.

Sterling Sanju completed her hattrick in the 64th minute when she controlled a cross and unleashed a venomous half volley, which ended in the bottom right corner to score Alakhpura’s fifth goal of the match.

Aizawl FC tried to reduce the margin but failed to contest against a superior Alakhpura defensive line, while their custodian made save sporadically to deny Alakhpura.

Deepika added more gloss to the scoreline in the 85th minute as she scored her second of the day, Aizawl FC pulled one goal back in the dying embers of the match. The full-time scoreline read 6-2 as FC Alakhpura registered a rather easy win.

(Report & Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)