Right foot, head and left foot – Spanish striker Sergio Mendigutxia used three different body parts, and in that order, to score a brilliant hat-trick (16’, 22’ & 50’) in his maiden competitive match in Indian football and announced his arrival in style to help NEROCA FC edge past debutants Sreenidi Deccan FC 3-2 in their I-League opener at the Naihati stadium near Kolkata on Monday afternoon.
Girik Khosla (41’) scored on the cusp of half-time and Colombian centre forward David Munoz (59’) raised the newbies’ hopes for a draw at least but NEROCA defenders held fort to deny the side from Andhra Pradesh a point.
Known as Mendi, the Spaniard combined with his compatriot and former East Bengal winger Juan Mera to bring in his brace from two free-kicks delivered by the latter before scoring the third, the most beautiful goal of the day, with absolute brilliance.
Relying more on the counter against their high pressing opponents, NEROCA got their break early in the match when Mendi tapped in from close range near left post after Sreenidi ’keeper CK Ubaid failed to clear or collect the ball on first attempt following a set-piece by Mera from near the centre circle.
Six minutes later, Mendi doubled the lead when he beat his marker, Ghanaian centre-back Mohamed Awal, to head home a Mera free-kick past Ubaid from centre of the box.
Five minutes into the second half, NEROCA right-back Md Abdul sent in a lovely long ball from their half after dribbling past two Sreenidi players and Mendi, seeing Ubaid come out of his position, lobbed it over the custodian into the centre of the net from just outside the left corner of the box to complete his treble.
Real Kashmir beat Aizawl 3-2: In the second match of the day at the Kalyani stadium, 2021 IFA Shield champions Real Kashmir FC got the better of former I-League winners Aizawl FC 3-2. Tiago Adan scored a brace (9’ & 45+2’) while Mason Robertson added another in the 66th minute for the Snow Leopards. Lalthakima Ralte’s equaliser in the 38th minute and Ramhlunchhunga’s 85th-minute strike proved a little short of fetching a point for the People’s Club from Mizoram.
