Inter Kashi 5 (Domingo Berlanga 32’, 57’, 59’, Edmund Lalrindika 62’, Nikola Stojanovic 68’)
beat
Delhi FC 1 (Himanshu Jangra 71’ p)

AIFF Media Team

KALYANI, WEST BENGAL: Inter Kashi stole an early march ahead of their challengers in the I-League 2024-25 after securing a 5-1 demolition job against Delhi FC at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium, on Sunday, December 1, 2024.

Moroccan striker Domingo Berlanga (32’, 57’, 59’) ran circles around the Delhi FC defence, netting the first hat-trick of the season, while Edmund Lalrindika (62’) and Serbian Nikola Stojanovic (68’) added two more. Himanshu Jangra (71’) converted a penalty later on, but it did not make much of a difference to the eventual result.

Inter Kashi are now the only team in the 2024-25 season of the I-League to have won their first two matches, and have thus taken a two-point lead at the top of the table.

The home side looked in control from the very beginning, with Joni Kauko dictating the proceedings from the middle of the park. The Finnish playmaker linked up well with forward Domingo, and the duo began threatening the Delhi outpost from the early exchanges.

It was Domingo’s doggedness that gave Inter Kashi the breakthrough around the half-hour mark. The Spaniard chased a stray clearance at full tilt, getting to the ball before Delhi’s last man Tondomba Singh Naorem, before he calmly jinked it past the keeper and rolled it into the goal.

Delhi’s chances were few and far between, but Domingo was on his toes ready to pounce at every opportunity. His cut-back from the left just seconds before the half-time whistle gave Edmund ample space and time, but he sent his effort wide.

Inter Kashi came out with clear intent in the second half, and their efforts soon paid dividends. First, Edmund’s cut-back was slammed home by Domingo to open the floodgates. Two minutes later, Kauko fed the Spaniard at the top of the box, as Domingo rushed past his marker and scored his third of the night.

Edmund got his second goal in as many starts for Inter Kashi this season, after he placed a cut-back from Kauko into the net. Stojanovic added a fifth minutes later, scorching a left-footer into the top corner to make it five.