Thaindian News

Kolkata, Oct 23 (IANS) Nigerian Odafe Okolie struck the first hat-trick in the I-League as Mohun Bagan cam back from a goal down to beat Pailan Arrows 3-1 in an entertaining football encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium here Sunday.

Pailan Arrows started on a positive note when Lalrozama Fanai put them ahead in the fifth minute. But the brilliance of the Odafe was too much for the Arrows to handle.

Paila Arrows did well to enjoy the lead for the most part of the game but shortly after the hour mark, Odafe showed his class as he struck thirce in 65th, 71st and 91st minute.

Mohun Bagan just used two of their foreigners to start the match with Odafe starting upfront while Hudson Lima played in the midfield.

Sunil Chetri and Odafe Okolie could not break the deadlock in the first half as Pailan Arrows seemed to hold onto their lead comfortably with some rock solid defending.

Manish Mathani wasted two goal scoring opportunities when he headed over the post on one occasion while his powerful long ranger was blocked by Pailan Arrows keeper Naveen Kumar in the 42nd minute.

The second half saw some aggressive moves by Mohun Bagan which ultimately gave them results in 65th minute when Odafe levelled terms with a finish off a Lima cross.

Odafe scored again in quick succession when he volleyed home on a Ashim Biswas low driven cross in the 71st minute.

In the 91st minute Odafe completed his hat-trick to become the leading scorer in the tournament.

The match ended 3-1 but Pailan Arrows will have some positives to take from it as they gave Mohun Bagan a tough fight with some good defending in the first half before Odafe showed his tremendous finishing abilities in front of goal.