I-League: Chidi hat-trick helps EB thrash Salgaocar

Edeh Chidi scored a hat-trick to power East Bengal to a spectacular come-from-behind 4-1 victory over Salgaocar in a 13th round I-league encounter at the Duler ground, in Goa on Saturday.

The red-and-gold brigade now have 27 points from 13 matches and moved ahead of Dempo to third place.

Salgaocar, who were looking for their second win on this ground, started impressively and took the lead in the 8th minute.

But East Bengal, who had never won against Salgaocar for the last 12 years in Goa, regrouped and equalised in the 36th minute through Chidi as teams were locked 1-1 at half-time.

East Bengal pumped in three more goals in the second half courtesy Robin Singh(59th) and Chidi who completed his hat-trick when he scored in the 65th and 81st minute.

Ten-man ONGC took their unbeaten streak under coach Santosh Kashyap to three as they blanked Pailan Arrows 3-0 at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.

An own goal from Arrows defender Pritam Kotal following a corner kick in the fifth minute set the tone for ONGC as they went on to increase their lead through Eric Brown and F Lalmuanpuia in the 30th and 67th minutes respectively.

Brown was given the marching orders for stamping Pritam Kotal in the 68th minute.

Courtesy this win, ONGC went to 13 points from that many matches while Arrows remain on 14 from 13 outings.

A last gasp injury-time goal by James Moga helped Pune FC beat United Sikkim FC 2-1 at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.

The match was heading for a draw with Arata Izumi's goal in the 23rd minute for Pune FC cancelled out by Nima Tamang in the 63rd minute.

Moga, who was kept quiet throughout the match by United Sikkim defence, ran past his marker to glance an in-swinging free kick from captain Douhou Pierre into the opponent's net in the second minute of the added time.

Pune FC thus avenged their 2-2 result in the first-leg home game. The win stretched Pune FC's unbeaten run to eight, while the win was sixth in away games and ninth in the league.

The victory took Pune FC to the top of the league table level on points with Churchill Brothers with a tally of 28 each. But since the Goan club had beaten them in the first leg encounter, head-to-head record keeps them on the top.

Pierre, adjudged the Man of the Match, had played a huge role in the first goal.

In another match, Sporting Clube de Goa forced Air India for a 1-1 draw in Pune. Elijah Obagbemiro Junior scored for the airmen in the 34th minute and his team managed to hold on to the lead.

But super sub Victorino Fernandes made the tables turn and help the visitors earn a point in the added time.