United outclass Lajong in Nayanar finale

KANNUR: United SC were crowned champions of the EK Nayanar Cup 2010 following their comfortable 3-0 victory against Shillong Lajong in the title round at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium. The Kolkata outfit, who have been in sensational form this season, grabbed the lead with two quickfire goals within the first twenty minutes and rarely looked under any pressure of conceding their lead, dominating play for long periods.

After Brazilian striker Edmilson Marquez opened the scoring with a thunderous long-range drive in the eighth minute, midfielder Gouranga Datta expertly converted off a cross form the left wing from the edge of the area to make it two-nil in the 18th.

Second-half sub Lal Kamal Bhowmick capped off the proceedings in the 79th with his team's third courtesy of a powerful strike that rebounded off the upright and a Lajong defender before finding the back of the net.

 

For all of his efforts, Edmilson was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament in the post-match ceremony while Lajong's Lalthummawaia won the Best Goal Keeper. Apart from the glittering Gold Cup trophy, United SC also claimed the winners bounty of Rs. 3,00,000 while Lajong took home a rather sizeable consolation prize of Rs. 2,00,000.

 

Mumbai FC and defending champions Air India were the two Mumbai representatives in the tournament but failed to make it past the preliminary group phase in Group A.