Indian National Team: India Hammer Monsanto 6-2 In Second Practice Match Of Portugal Tour

Back to back wins for Bob Houghton's team

By Goal.com India

More On : India, Monsanto vs India

Comments

The Indian national team registered a convincing 6-2 victory over Portuguese Third Division outfit Monsanto in their second practice match of the Portugal tour at Pilado training ground, Vierra on Thursday evening.

Renedy Singh, Mohammed Rafi (2), Anthony Pereira, Abhishek Yadav and Clifford Miranda all got on the scoresheet for Bob Houghton's team.

Don't Miss

India have now made it two wins out of two following their 4-1 thrashing of Caldas SC on Wednesday evening.

Bob Houghton made two changes to the team that defeated Caldas with Subhasish Roy Chowdhury replacing Subrata Paul in goal while Steven Dias made way for Clifford Miranda.

Miranda started on the left wing while Anthony Pereira was playing in his familiar right wing position.

India went behind in the 17th minute but equalized three minutes later when Renedy Singh converted a penalty after a Monsanto defender had handled the ball inside the box.

The 2008 AFC Challenge Cup winners took the lead in the 40th minute when Mohammed Rafi exchanged passes with Anthony Pereira before slotting the ball past the Monsanto keeper.

Two minutes later Rafi returned the favour by setting up Anthony Pereira, who made it 3-1 with a cool and composed finish.

In-Form Strikers

Abhishek Yadav headed home India’s fourth from a Renedy Singh corner to give Bob Houghton’s team a three goal lead at the break.

Eight substitutions were made during halftime with only Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, Clifford Miranda and Mohammed Rafi remaining on the pitch.

India’s first goal after the interval came in the 58th minute when Rafi doubled his tally to make it 5-1. The Kerala born striker got on the end of a James Singh pass and finished it clinically.

Seven minutes later Dempo winger Clifford Miranda made it 6-1 and at that stage it was looking like India could very well reach double figures.

But the 2011 Asian Cup participants eased up a bit in the second half of the second period and allowed Monsanto to pull one back.

No Clean Sheet

There were no further goals as the game ended in a comfortable 6-2 win for India, who have now scored 10 goals in two practice matches but have failed to keep a clean sheet in both games.

India Lineup:

24-Subhasish Roy Choudhury,17-Surkumar Singh (4-Mohanraj),19-Gouramangi Moirangthem (12-Deepak Kumar Mandal) ,5-Anwar (14-Mahesh Gawli), 22-Syed Rahim Nabi (3-NS Manju), 7-NP Pradeep (27-Mehrajuddin Wadoo), 8-Renedy Singh (41-Rakesh Masih), 28-Anthony Pereira (13-James Singh), 25-Clifford Miranda, 26-Mohammed Rafi, 9-Abhishek Yadav (18-Sushil Kumar Singh)

Unused Substitutes:

1-Subrata Pal, 16-Arindam Bhattacharya, 2-Govin Singh, 23-Steven Dias, 6-Baldeep Singh