KOLKATA:
Eddie Hernandez
’s rich vein in form continued as leaders
Mohammedan Sporting
brushed aside struggling
TRAU FC
2-0 in their
I-League
match at the
Kalyani municipal stadium
on Saturday.
The win helped
Andrey Chernyshov
’s team to 34 points from 15 matches, opening up a 8-point lead over Gokulam Kerala (14 matches) and
Sreenidi Deccan
FC (13 matches).
Four days ago, Hernandez struck a hat-trick in helping Mohammedan Sporting overcome new year blues with a 5-1 victory over Rajasthan United FC. And the Honduran striker was at it again, scoring both goals (45+1 and 90+1) against bottom-placed TRAU, who are playing their home matches at Kalyani and have so far managed just 7 points from 14 matches.
David Lalhlansanga
was instrumental in helping Mohammedan Sporting break the deadlock in the first added minute of the first half when he dribbled past a couple of defenders, leaving the TRAU defence in disarray, before passing the ball to Hernandez. Playing a quick give-and-go with David, the Honduras striker made it 1-0 with a piledriver giving the goalkeeper no chance to react.
TRAU tried to test the Kolkata team’s backline with a few well-constructed sorties and substitute Soraisam Robinson Singh even saw his header denied by the woodwork.
Mohammedan Sporting finally sealed the match in added minutes of the second half, when Hernandez rose to the occasion again, heading home for his and the team’s second goal.
Mohammedan Sporting resumed their I-League campaign in 2024 with a 0-3 loss to Real Kashmir, their first defeat this term, before dropping more points in a 0-0 stalemate with Aizawl.
However, back-to-back wins against Rajasthan FC and TRAU have steadied the ship, giving them a handsome lead at the top.