: I-League 2022-23: Dauda hat-trick highlight of hectic penultimate day as Mohammedan win #IndiaNEWS #Sports New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) On a hectic penultimate day of the I-League 2022-23, Mohammedan

I-League 2022-23: Dauda hat-trick highlight of hectic penultimate day as Mohammedan win #IndiaNEWS #Sports
New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) On a hectic penultimate day of the I-League 2022-23, Mohammedan Sporting displayed the best performance, beating bottom-placed Sudeva Delhi 5-2, but Aizawl FC gained the most, despite dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Mumbai Kenkre FC.
NEROCA FC went down at home to Churchill Brothers 0-1 while Real Kashmir FC beat Rajasthan United 1-0 as four matches were played across the country on a busy day.
Mohammedan Sporting registered a 5-2 win over wooden spooners Sudeva Delhi at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Nigerian forward Abiola Daudas hat trick was the main reason behind that emphatic victory.
But they had to be content with the eighth spot in the final standings as later on Saturday, Aizawl fought for a 2-2 draw against the other relegated team Mumbai Kenkre FC.
Thus, both Mehrajuddin Wadoos Mohammedan Sporting and Caetano Pinhos former Hero I-League champions finished on 26 points, but Aizawl got the seventh position because of a better head-to-head record. Their win over the Kolkata side on Republic Day in Aizawl proved to be decisive.
It means Aizawl will meet either Gokulam Kerala FC or TRAU FC in the Super Cup qualifiers on April 6.
Real Kashmir (34 points) ensured the fifth spot with a 1-0 victory over Rajasthan United at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi. Ernest Boateng scored the all-important goal for the Snow Leopards in the seventh minute of the match.
Despite having better ball possession and creating more chances, they could not increase the margin. Gifton Noel-Williams boys will now play Churchill Brothers in the other Hero Super Cup qualifier on April 6.
CHURCHILL WIN 1-0
The Goan side defeated NEROCA in an ill-tempered match at the Khuman Lampak Stadium earlier in the day.
Momo Cisses 22nd-minute goal made the difference from the spot. There was enough drama involved in the penalty, too. NEROCA goalkeeper Soram Porei, who had a great match, saved Cisses penalty kick diving to his left but the assistant referee ruled he had left his line before he should have. So it had to be retaken and Cisse made no mistake the second time around.
The match heated up in the second half as frustration grew among both ranks and the players got physical. It culminated in ugly scenes after the game was over. Nonganba Singh and David Simbo of NEROCA, and Sharif Mukhammad and Ponif Vaz of Churchill Brothers were shown the red card for a scuffle after the final whistle.
Churchills win did a favour to Pushpender Kundus Rajasthan United as they could finish ninth ahead of NEROCA despite the loss to Real Kashmir. This is also a result of head-to-head records.
Rajasthan had beaten NEROCA on both occasions this season.