CHANDIGARH: If the first half was about warming up after a week's break, the second half witnessed a scintillating comeback from RoundGlass Punjab FC that helped them pip Sudeva Delhi FC 3-2, and more importantly get their I-League campaign back on track.
With off-field theatrics taking the front seat in the past couple of weeks that also witnessed the side parting ways with their former coach, Saturday's win is expected to boost the Punjab franchise's morale and keep them in good stead going ahead in the tournament. New coach Ed Engelkes will also be pumped up with a win under his best in his technically first outing with the club.
Two own goals on either side of Sumeet Passi's 47th minute-strike proved to be enough for the Punjab club to win the contest, which took place at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal.
The first half began with RoundGlass Punjab FC pressing for the initiative but fell behind five minutes into the match as Sudeva scored through Sreyas G. Despite the early setback, RoundGlass Punjab FC pushed with determination for the equalizer with Ashish Jha, Maheson Singh and Freddy Lallawmawma all firing efforts on goal that missed the target narrowly.
A concerted spell of pressure saw Shankar Sampingiraj's header miss the target by inches in the 24th minute from a corner-kick while a minute later, Kurtis Guthrie saw his headed effort from close range cannon back off the crossbar.
At the half-hour mark, Guthrie found the net with a looping header but was adjudged to be offside by the match officials. Six minutes before the break, the team from Delhi doubled its advantage through Abhijit Sarkar.
RoundGlass Punjab FC came out with renewed vigour after the half-time interval and halved the deficit immediately as Aakash Sangwan charged down the left flank and saw his cross turned into his own net by Sudeva's Zuidika.
A minute later, Sumeet Passi levelled the scoreline with a brilliant effort as he dribbled past defenders to the edge of the box and fired a low shot into the corner past the rival custodian. In the 55th minute, Aphaoba Singh, who came on as a substitute in the second half, dashed into the box from the right flank and played in a low cross, which wreaked havoc in the Sudeva defence.
The ball deflected off Souvik Das and went into the goal as the turnaround was complete for RoundGlass Punjab FC.
Travis Major had a shot saved in the 57th minute, while Maheson came close on two occasions minutes later. More chances were created, but in the end, the match finished with the score at 3-2 as RoundGlass Punjab FC picked up its fourth win of the season to rise to the fourth place on the league standings, with 14 points from eight games.
In their next match, the Punjab boys will face Indian Arrows on April 6.
