UTORDA: Minerva Punjab FC blanked Chennaiyin FC 5-0 in the opening game of the Nike Premier Cup, at the Utorda Sports Complex, on Monday.
The first goal of the game came when Arjun Sharma curled in a direct free-kick from almost 32 yards out. The set piece of Minerva was fantastic one as Minerva scored again through the set-piece route in the 30th minute.
The second goal was a header that beat Chennaiyin goalkeeper Aron R as Minerva went into half-time with a two goal advantage.
In the second half, Minerva were 3-0 up in no time as Benjohnson was allowed time and space inside the box and the attacker nutmegged a goal through the legs of the goalkeeper.
Minerva were in dominant form and Chennaiyin were not able to even get to their attacking third.
As the game was winding down, Minerva kept the pressure on the Chennaiyin backline and they scored a fourth when Samson scored a brilliant goal.
The forward ran hard to get on the end of a diagonal ball from the right half and he steered the shot across goal from the left side. The ball found its way into the far corner as Minerva led 4-0.
The score-line looked to stay that way but Minerva stung Chennaiyin again when substitute Isra Khan had the easiest of finishes to make it 5-0 and bag all three points.
Meanwhile, the match played between SAI Guwahati and FC Goa ended in a goalless draw at Nagoa ground.
