PANCHKULA: RoundGlass Punjab FC defeated Sreenidi Deccan 2-1 to start their I-League campaign on a winning note at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here on Monday.
First half strikes from Luka Majcen and Samuel Lalmuanpuia clinched three points for the Punjab outfit even as Sreenidi defender Shahabaaz Khan scored in the 58th minute to reduce the margin.
The first half began on a tentative note as both the teams looked to enter their respective passing rhythms. Attacks were few and far between in the opening 15 minutes.
The home side started to dominate the exchanges eventually and the first major chance came in the 21st minute after a free-kick from the left flank was headed towards his own goal by Sreenidi defence, which had to be cleared off the line at the last second.
Two minutes later, RoundGlass Punjab FC's pressure paid dividends. A quick throw-in from the right flank found Brandon Vanlalremdika in space inside the penalty area. He chipped in a cross for Majcen and the Slovenian marksman smartly placed it beyond the keeper in the near post.
The Punjab side continued to create waves of attack, with Majcen's shot from close range being blocked on the goal-line in the 38th minute. However, he was narrowly offside as well while receiving the ball.
With two minutes of the first half left, RoundGlass Punjab FC doubled their lead through Lalmuanpuia.
After Majcen was brought down at the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder took the free-kick and placed it over the wall and past the goalkeeper, much to the delight of the home fans.
The best chance of the half for the visitors came at the half hour mark after a free-kick from the right flank posed questions of the defence but Adnan Secerovic cleared in time.
Sreenidi Deccan looked to switch things around in the second half with attacker David Munoz coming on as a substitute. They created an opening in the 54th minute as Louis Ogana played a low cross from the right, which was collected safely by Kiran Limbu.
Sreenidi, however, continued to press and reduced the deficit in the 58th minute. Gabriel's cross was palmed away from goal by Limbu, and Khan got his head to the loose ball first and put it into the net.
The match grew in intensity and RoundGlass Punjab FC came close to finding their third goal in the 68th minute.
Krishnananda Singh won the ball high up the pitch and charged towards the by-line from the left wing but his cross was inches away from finding Majcen.
Six minutes later, the striker almost played in substitute Pranjal Bhumij on a fast counter-attack but his pass was inaccurate and was collected by Sreenidi keeper Aryan Lamba.
The Hyderabad-based side piled on the pressure in search of the equaliser towards the end, but the Punjab backline thwarted their attempts.
