Durand Cup: Rodriguinho scores five as SC Delhi thrash Defenders FC 7-0

Brazilian striker Rodriguinho scored five goals on his first start for SC Delhi as they crushed Defenders FC 7-0 in the Durand Cup. The emphatic victory lifted SC Delhi to the top of Group C with six points from two matches

Hyderabad: Brazilian forward Rodriguinho announced his arrival in Indian football in spectacular fashion, scoring five goals as SC Delhi demolished Defenders FC 7-0 for their second straight win in Group C of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi on Friday.

The Brazilian struck a sensational five-goal haul on his first start for the club, while Mohammed Aimen and substitute Juan Sebastian Peña also found the back of the net as SC Delhi produced a dominating display from start to finish.

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The victory took SC Delhi to the top of the Group C standings with six points from two matches, taking them closer to a place in the quarterfinals. Defenders FC, meanwhile, completed their group stage campaign without a point, suffering a third consecutive defeat of the tournament.

The Brazilian opened the scoring with a moment of individual quality, bringing down a pass expertly on his chest before spinning away from his marker and dispatching a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner. Barely a minute later, he doubled both his tally and SC Delhi’s advantage. Mohammed Aimen threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into the striker’s path, and Rodriguinho made no mistake, guiding a first-time left-footed effort into the bottom corner.

Rodriguinho completed his dream debut moments later following another slick attacking move. Mohammed Azhar clipped a precise long ball over the defence to Yanglem Sanatomba Singh, who squared a low, accurate cross across the six-yard box. The Brazilian arrived unmarked and had the simplest of finishes, calmly slotting the ball into the net to complete a remarkable 13-minute hat-trick.

SC Delhi extended their advantage in the 34th minute, shortly after the first hydration break, with another incisive attacking move. Lalrinliana Hnamte picked out Mohammed Aimen with a perfectly weighted long ball after the winger timed his run to perfection. Aimen brought the ball under control with a fine first touch before calmly lifting his finish over the advancing goalkeeper to make it 4-0.

Rodriguinho capped a wonderful evening with two more superbly taken goals. The hosts struck again in the second minute of stoppage time when substitute Juan Sebastian Peña got on the scoresheet, with a left footer after dribbling past two defenders inside the box to make it 6-0. And, he completed an extraordinary five-goal haul in the fifth minute of added time.