Kolkata: South African side Santos FC dazzled on their arrival to outclass Mahindra United, Mumbai, 2-0 in a quarter final group league exchange of the 113th IFA Shield football tournament here today.

The foreign outfit, who finished seventh in their premier division league, scored once in each half through their redoubtable striker Taslem Paulse in the floodlit group B encounter at the Salt Lake stadium.

Earlier, it was a story of missed chances as Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting finished goalless with local outfit Mohammedan Sporting in a mediocre group A tie at the same venue.

Santos, who have come with largely a squad of second stringers apart from five players from their first team, went into the lead as early as the seventh minute when Paulse latched on to a clearance from his own defence and set off on a long run at a searing pace that foxed the rival rearguards. The striker dribbled past Mahindra right back Sunil Kumar, cut into the box, and slotted home.

The foreigners doubled their lead in the 50th minute. Midfielder Danny Rodrick addressed a long ball from near the centreline to Paulse, who avoided the offside trap set by the Maindra defence and put the ball home with a rasping volley that went to the right of Mahindra goalkeeper Nandy.

The South Africans dominated their rivals for the lions share of the tie, and could have left the field with a larger margin but for Mahidnra defender Susanth Mathew, who made a goalline save, while Nandy also prevented his side's decline once.

In the first match, the Dhaka outfit had the greater share of exchanges, as the city side looked incohesive and rudderlss.
Source : PTI