Neroca, Chennai share the spoils

Chennai City scored three goals in the first half through Manzi’s hat- trick Neroca came back strongly in second half through Chidi, Chencho and Aryn

Imphal, Feb. 11: Neroca FC and Chennai City FC shared the spoils in a thrilling 3- 3 tie that by all means has opened the Hero I- League title race wide open. Chennai City FC still hold the pole position with 34 points having played 16 matches, two points clear of debutants Real Kashmir FC who are placed second now. Neroca FC are now placed fifth in the points table with 26 points from 17 matches.

Chennai City fired in three in the first half through Pedro Manzi ( 34’; 41’; 45’+ 1’) who scored his fourth hat- trick this season. Neroca FC came back strongly in the second half through Felix Chidi in the 52nd minute followed by a goal each from Chencho and Aryn Williams in the 68th and the first minute of the added time finishing off the game in a tie. Pedro Manzi of Chennai City was adjudged the Hero of the Match.

Chennai were one down on their Spanish armada at the start of the game with defender Roberto Eslava missing out and Pandiyan replacing him. Slovak utility player Jozef Kaplan also started for a change with coach Akbar Nawas deciding to start Jesuraj on the bench.

Manuel Fraile, the home side’s Spanish gaffer also made two changes to the starting line- up, playing Tondomba Singh and under- 22 Naocha Singh in ● ● place of Ashok Singh and Abdul Salam.

Neroca dominated the first half with left- winger Singham Subhash Singh troubling the Chennai defence with repeated forays down the left flank and channel. However in the 34th minute, as has been the norm this season and quite against the run of play, Chennai’s three classy Spanish attackers combined for yet another wonderfully crafted goal to give the visitors the lead.

Sandro found Nestor Jesus on the left flank with a long ball from just inside their own half. The mercurial Nestor cut in to find Manzi who slid the ball into the net from between keeper Lalit Thapa’s legs for his 14th strike of the campaign. Manzi latched on defense lapse to score an easy goal and later completed hat- trick.

However, Neroca were not going down without a fight. The struck early in the second half through substitute Chidi. Later, Chencho reduced lead and Williams scored late equaliser.