<p> Mohammedan Sporting consolidated their position atop the standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rangdajied United FC, courtesy Jerry Zersingha’s second half goal, in their I-League Second Division match at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Monday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Zersingha’s 50th minute strike catapulted the Kolkata outfit to 10 points from four matches with one game remaining in the first phase of the final round. <br /><br />Rangdajied stay on four points from as many matches failing to lift their game a notch higher after a terrific performance in their last match when they shocked the fancied Mumbai Tigers. <br /><br />Tigers suffered another blow earlier in the day when Bhawanipore inflicted a 3-2 defeat on them to move to second position with eight points. Jose Barreto scored a hat-trick, scoring in the 26th, 64th and 84th minutes. Demba Dikhate (7th) and N P Pradeep (62nd) netted for Tigers, who are on six points from four matches.<br /><br />Sporting’s successes in the final round matches here have been centred around the skills of their Moroccan striker Younes Baltham and Liberian midfielder Alfred K Jaryan. The duo engineer most of Sporting’s attacks and their lethal blows in crucial situations have powered the team to the top.<br /><br />However, it was Zersingha’s turn to grab a share of the limelight on Monday, with a sweetly-timed lob from the right flank beating Rangdajied custodian Surjay K Pariyar. <br />Sporting, with momentum in their favour after the morale-boosting goal, then let go two great opportunities to double the lead. <br /><br />L Zuala’s shot in the 84th minute went inches wide off the near post and then, Korean Wi Hyju, who came in as a substitute for Baltham in the 72nd minute, fired wide off a Zersingha cross in the 86th minute. <br /><br />Nigerian Babatunde toiled hard for Rangdajied but couldn’t effect a breakthrough. <br /><br /><br />Tuesday’s match: Southern Samity vs Langsning FC (4 pm).</p>
<p> Mohammedan Sporting consolidated their position atop the standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rangdajied United FC, courtesy Jerry Zersingha’s second half goal, in their I-League Second Division match at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Monday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Zersingha’s 50th minute strike catapulted the Kolkata outfit to 10 points from four matches with one game remaining in the first phase of the final round. <br /><br />Rangdajied stay on four points from as many matches failing to lift their game a notch higher after a terrific performance in their last match when they shocked the fancied Mumbai Tigers. <br /><br />Tigers suffered another blow earlier in the day when Bhawanipore inflicted a 3-2 defeat on them to move to second position with eight points. Jose Barreto scored a hat-trick, scoring in the 26th, 64th and 84th minutes. Demba Dikhate (7th) and N P Pradeep (62nd) netted for Tigers, who are on six points from four matches.<br /><br />Sporting’s successes in the final round matches here have been centred around the skills of their Moroccan striker Younes Baltham and Liberian midfielder Alfred K Jaryan. The duo engineer most of Sporting’s attacks and their lethal blows in crucial situations have powered the team to the top.<br /><br />However, it was Zersingha’s turn to grab a share of the limelight on Monday, with a sweetly-timed lob from the right flank beating Rangdajied custodian Surjay K Pariyar. <br />Sporting, with momentum in their favour after the morale-boosting goal, then let go two great opportunities to double the lead. <br /><br />L Zuala’s shot in the 84th minute went inches wide off the near post and then, Korean Wi Hyju, who came in as a substitute for Baltham in the 72nd minute, fired wide off a Zersingha cross in the 86th minute. <br /><br />Nigerian Babatunde toiled hard for Rangdajied but couldn’t effect a breakthrough. <br /><br /><br />Tuesday’s match: Southern Samity vs Langsning FC (4 pm).</p>