USFC hits winning stride, comes back from a goal down to win again

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 08 May: The USFC fighting spirit is expressing itself strong with the team, under pressure to win all its matches to break into the I-League, bouncing back from a goal down to surge past the strong Southern Samity [Kolkata] challenge in Shillong today in the final round of second division I-League. Bhaichung’s United Sikkim Football Club qualified for the second division only this season is now in the third position in the qualifiers from which the top-two will break into the main I-League this season.
Southern Samity went down 2-1 to USFC today.
Southern Samity tok an early lead today, its strikers breaking through the USFC defense marshaled by Bhaichung himself as stopper in the 14th minute itself. The playing conditions were difficult as the accompanying photograph of players covered in mud will bear out. It has been raining hard in Shillong and the slushy ground makes for difficult ball control.
The USFC team, however, kept its wits around and kept the Southern Samity defence under constant pressure, breaking through finally from the boots of Beikhokhei in the 43rd minute. The first half ended with the score level. Beikhokhei was all over the field today, a persistence which won him the man of the match honour today.
As the match drew to a close, USFC was staring at the possibility of another draw, a scoreline which stayed with it for the first three matches until it broke free with a 1-0 win against Md. Sporting in its last outing.
The last quarter also saw Bhaichung spring what is now becoming his signature move for the tournament – moving from stopper to striker. This sharpened the USFC attack and stretched out the Southern Samity defense thin enough to create stronger openings.

One such opening was exploited by Nim Tshering in the 85th minute when he struck through a perfect cross which was connected by Johnny D Meyongar to bulge the Southern Samity goal. USFC was ahead 2-1 and this how the score stayed when the final whistle blew.
Bhaichung, it may be added, has still not recovered fully from his injury, but has been playing full matches now that his club is at a crucial stage, needing to win just about every match to stand a chance of qualifying.
The team was also buoyed by the presence of the TNA Alumni Association members who had travelled over from Gangtok to Shillong for the weekend to cheer for the home-team.
The USFC senior manager, Arjun Rai, while speaking to NOW! over the phone today, conveyed the team’s gratitude towards the TNA Alumni Association members for having made the effort to travel to Shillong to cheer the team during this crucial match.
With this win, the USFC is on now third position with 9 points, a single point behind Vasco Sports Club which is on second position with 10 points. Lajong FC leads the table with 13 points.
So far in the final round, the USFC has drawn its first three matches - against Sporting Clube de Goa, Royal Wahingdoh and Shillong Lajong FC - and registered its first win against Mohammedan Sporting Club in the last match and now a second win.
The club has two matches left in the round. It will play against Arhima Club on 11 May and meets Vasco Sports Club for its final match of the qualifier on 14 May.