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Chirag United, Kolkata, registered a convincing 2-0 victory over ONGC, Mumbai, in a Second Division National Football League match in Kozhikode on Wednesday.
The victory took Chirag's tally to seven points from four matches and put the Kolkatans in contention for one of the two berths in next season's premier league along with Salgaocar (8) and Viva Kerala (6). The latter has played only three matches.
After a dull first-half, in which both the teams let each other off the hook by failing to convert several chances, Chirag United, facing a do-or-die situation in the crucial tie, accelerated the pace.
As ONGC custodian Bilifang Narzary looked a bit relaxed under the bar, In the 80th minute, Chirag United's Surajit Chakraborty took control of the ball, which came off a Lalmalsawma Hmar's pass, and his powerful shot kissed Narzary's left hand before rolling into the goal.
Six minutes later, Nigerian Theodore Sundy Wrobeh raced ahead and his grounder went clear of the diving rival keeper.
A victory for Viva Kerala on Thursday against Army XI, New Delhi, will ensure them a berth to the first division as they will move to the top of the table with nine points after four rounds in the five-round six-team event.