India beat local side 6-2 in 2nd practice match in Portugal

New Delhi: Indian national football team thrashed Portuguese third division side Desportivo Monsanto 6-2 in their second practice match of the two-month training tour of the Iberian country in Vieria de Leiria.

Mohammed Rafi struck twice (40th and 58th), while Renedy Singh (20th), Anthony Pereira (42nd), Abhishek Yadav (44th) and Clifford Miranda (65th) scored a goal each for India in the match played at Pilado ground located some 200km from Portuguese capital of Lisbon on the road to Porto. India made two changes in the starting XI which beat Desportivo das Caldas 4-1 in their first practice match with Subrata Pal making way for Subhasish Roy Choudhury while Clifford Miranda replaced injured Steven Dias. It was Desportivo Monsanto who took a surprise lead in the 17th minute, but Renedy Singh brought India back on track scoring from the spot three minutes later after one of the defenders of the local side handled the ball inside the box.India were ahead for the first time in the match in the 40th minute when Rafi and Pereira combined well before the former fired home. Anthony and Rafi were once again in the thick of action, but it was the former`s turn to register his name in the scoresheet two minutes later. Abhishek then made it 4-1 just a minute before halftime heading in a Renedy Singh flag-kick.Bob Houghton brought in eight players in the second half with only goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Choudhury, Clifford Miranda and Rafi remaining unchanged. Rafi scored his second goal in the 58th minute off a James Singh pass from the right while Miranda completed India`s tally in the 65th minute before Desportivo Monsanto decreased the deficit in the 78th minute following a goal mouth melee. The Indians will wound up their month-long training at Vieria de Leiria and leave for Lisbon tomorrow for another month-long stint at Sporting Lisbon facilities as part of their preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup. PTI