A splendid hattrick by substitute Rakesh Basu Maitry gave 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre (GRRC) a 4-0 win over Indian National FC in a Durand Cup qualifier at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.
Rudra scored the opener in the 71st minute of the game after a dull and scoreless first half. Maitry, brought on as a substitute in the 75th minute, made an immediate impact as he headed the ball off a corner over the bar.
But he soon found his rhythm and scored the first of his three goals to make it 2-0 for 11 GRRC. The Indian National defence was caught napping on many occasions after that as the opposition mounted attacks.
Maitry soon put the game out of Indian National's reach as he curled the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net for GRRC's final goal and his hattrick.
In the other qualifier, BSF beat J&K Bank 2-0. Sarabjit scored in the 34th minute and Avinash Thapa scored the winner in the 83rd minute.
Sixteen teams will feature in the qualifiers out of which only two will make it through to the quarterfinal league round that will start from September 11. The final will be played on September 22. All the matches will be played under floodlights at the Ambedkar.
{{/usCountry}}Sixteen teams will feature in the qualifiers out of which only two will make it through to the quarterfinal league round that will start from September 11. The final will be played on September 22. All the matches will be played under floodlights at the Ambedkar.
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