RoundGlass Punjab rise to the top with an 8-0 thumping of Sudeva

Juan Mera's hattrick and Luka Majcen's brace helped Syaikos Vergetis's side usurp Sreenidi Deccan.

RoundGlass Punjab put 8 goals past Sudeva Delhi FC as they secured a commanding win to maintain their unbeaten record at home and more importantly go on top of the table in a Round 19 fixture of the Hero I-League 2022-23 season played here at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium. Juan Mera scored a hat trick while Luka Majcen scored a brace. Substitutes Abhishek Singh, Juan Carlos Nellar, and Maheson Singh completed a dominating display by the hosts.

RoundGlass Punjab coach Staikos Vergetis named an unchanged line-up from the last match for this crucial encounter. Sudeva Delhi FC coach Sankarlal Chakroborthy also named an unchanged line up which got two back-to-back wins. RoundGlass Punjab were on the attack from the very first minute with Juan Mera creating havoc in the Sudeva half. The first attempt came from Juan Mera whose shot came back off the post.

Utter dominance from the home team

The home team kept on attacking the Sudeva Delhi half and they got success in the 22nd minute. Sudeva cleared an attack of RGPFC but the ball fell to Juan whose pinpoint volley found the corner of the goal giving the hosts the lead. RGPFC doubled their lead six minutes later through Luka Majcen. Hmingthanmawia diverted a corner from Juan Mera towards the waiting Luka Majcen who headed the ball past Sudeva keeper Priyant Singh.

Luka and Juan combined to score the third for RGPFC. Luka controlled the ball inside the box with a wonderful touch and played it to Juan Mera who skipped past two defenders and found the bottom corner of the goal again past Priyant Singh. Chencho Gylteshen and Brandon Vanlalremdika were also bright going forward giving the Sudeva defence problems and rounding off a dominating half for the hosts.

Sudeva started the second half with the intent to make some impact in the game but they could not create any clear-cut chances. The defenders and midfielders of RoundGlass Punjab did not allow the Sudeva attackers much space for goal-scoring opportunities. RGPFC maintained possession in the midfield to frustrate the away side.

Substitues get in on the act

The fourth RoundGlass Punjab goal came in the 69th minute, and substitute Maheson Singh brilliantly found Luka inside the box who poked the ball past to keeper to score his second of the day. Luka could have scored his hat trick in the very next minute but his header went wide of a pass from Juan Mera. Mera completed his hat trick in the 75th minute. Left-back Mohammed Salah's cross was cleared onto the path of Juan Mera whose first-time shot flew past Sudeva keeper. Sudeva goalkeeper Priyant Singh was substituted in the 77th minute by Sachin Jha but the substitute's first job was to take the ball from the net in the very next minute.

Maheson Singh played a defence-splitting pass from his fellow substitute Abhishek Singh who finished past the substitute keeper to make it 6 for the hosts. Juan Mera and Argentine Juan Carlos Nellar combined brilliantly to score the seventh goal for the hosts. One-touch passes from both players resulted in Nellar finishing expertly past Sachin Jha. RGPFC were not done there as they scored the 8th goal in injury time. Maheson Singh completed his excellent cameo from the bench with a well-taken goal. His curling effort found the top corner of Sudeva's net rounding off a dominating performance by RGPFC who has taken one step forward in the title race.

The title race heats up

Juan Mera was adjudged the Hero of the match for his brilliant hat trick and two assists. RGPFC have 43 points from nineteen matches while Sudeva Delhi FC have 12 points from nineteen matches. RGPFC will face Churchill Brothers on 1st March at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula.