KOLKATA (India): Reigning champions Chennai City started their title defence with a 1-0 win over debutants TRAU FC in I-League on Sunday.
Adolfo Miranda scored the all-important goal in the 49th minute to help his side log full points.
The match kicked-off with the host employing a 3-4-3 formation with a thrust on attack.
The visitors, who earned a promotion this season, got an early free-kick, but Roberto Eslava cleared the ball to safety.
Chennai could have increased the lead when Katsumi cross was mistimed by Mashoor Shereef and his shot went wide.
TRAU made two changes in the last 15 minutes. They brought on Deepak Devrani and Abinash Ruidas, but that hardly helped as Chennai held on to the lead.
Last season’s joint top-scorer Pedro Manzi could have closed the game once, but Gurpreet dived low at the near post to deny him.
Lalkhapuimawia shines for Churchill
Lalkhapuimawia scored a double as former champions Churchill Brothers beat Punjab FC 3-0 to pick up three points at the 13th Hero I-League on Sunday.
The Mizoram striker, who debuted for his new club, opened the scoring in the first half added time and added his second in the 81st minute while captain Willis Plaza increased the lead in the 70th.
Punjab, winners in 2017-18 season, failed to create any impact on the Goan side.
Anwar Ali had a match to forget, with a red card in the dying stages.
Full points for Gokulam Kerala
On Saturday, Durand Cup champions Gokulam Kerala kicked off their campaign with a hard fought 2-1 win over Manipur’s NEROCA FC.
Goals from Henry Kisekka (43rd min) and Marcus Joseph (49th min) gave the home side the lead in front of a packed audience of 31,184 fans in Kozhikode.
Taryk Sampson pulled one back for the visitors in the 88th.
