MARGAO: A four goal blitz including a hat-trick by striker Arjun Tudu helped Army Red thrash Bengal Engineering Group (BEG) 7-1 in Pool C of the Preliminary qualifying round of 127th Durand Cup football tournament, at 3 MTR ground, Navelim, on Wednesday. Army Red led 1-0 at the breather.
Army Red who dominated throughout the match scored through Shadip Rai (32nd minute), substitute Dipen Thapa (60th and 90th minutes) and Arjun Tudu (71st, 82nd , 88th and 90+2 minutes) to complete the rout.
BEG who were at the receiving end reduced the margin through Vijay Pal Singh in the 77th minute.
Army Red took the lead in the 32nd minute through Shadip Rai who headed home a cross from the right by Lallian Mania.
The second half did not bring any respite to BEG as Army Red attacked from the flanks and doubled the lead in 60th minute through substitute Dipen Thapa, who controlled the ball inside the box off a cross from Arjun Tudu and placed it to the far corner of the net, beating advancing rival keeper Bijinder Rawat hands down.
Arjun, who was a thorn in the rival defence made it 3-0 when he picked up the ball from Francis Z.
BEG were at the receiving end throughout but scored the consolation goal in the 77th minute after striker Vijay Pal Singh received the ball at the top of the box and essayed a left-footer to find the roof of the net.
Substitute Dipen Thapa than scored his brace in the 90th minute before Arjun Tudu completed the rout in the injury time to give his side an emphatic win.
Sesa FA who got a walk-over after Oil India failed to turn up, now meet Army Red in the quarter-finals on October 25.
In another match, at 3MTR ground, Navelim, Amarwant Singh’s own-goal proved costly as Dalbir Football Academy went down fighting 1-2 to Army Green.
Army Green who led 1-0 at half time scored through Dhanji Singh (30th minute) and a self-goal by Dalbir’s defender Amarwant Singh (53rd minute).
Dalbir FA had equalized in the 50th minute through defender Amarwant.
