Guwahati, March 29 (MTNews): Mathew Kezhose scored a superb hat-trick for Nagaland as they thrashed Bodousa Club 5-0 in their last league match of the ongoing 68th Bordoloi Trophy on Tuesday. The trophy is an annual Indian football tournament organized by Guwahati Sports Association (GSA).
Nagaland team are favorites to go through to the semifinal round. However, the fate of the semifinal berth will be decided by CISF and Oil India FC encounter who will be playing the last league match of Group C on Wednesday.
In Group C, Nagaland Police have played three league matches with one draw and two wins garnering 7 points (+6 goal difference), while second place CISF with 4 points (+5 goal difference) have a game in hand. In the last match, CISF team will have to win by more than 2 goals to go through to the semis on better goal aggregate.
In the match today, the Naga outfit thrashed Bodousa 5-0 to move a step closer to the semifinal round. They should have scored more goals had their strikers not been wasteful in their finishes. Rhitsho Mero opened the account for Nagaland in the 21st minute, and their captain Limakumzuk doubled the lead in the 35th minute converting a spot kick, making the lead 2-0 in the first half.
In the second half, Kezhose completed his hat-trick in 31 minutes scoring in the 58, 76 and 89 minutes to end the match 5-0 in favor of Nagaland team.
Veteran goal scoring striker Mathew Kezhose has four goals in three games for Nagaland team, followed by Khwetelhi Thopi, and captain Limakumzuk with two goals each.
Nagaland Police team is led by coach Lhoulavolie, Asst coach – Hainsiugongbe and R. Dibambo as manager. Mention may be made that the winner of each Group A, B, C and D will only qualify for the semifinal round in the tournament.
