Transport United ran out 5-0 winners against Bhutan U19 in the Premier League Regular Season on Tuesday, a result that moved them further clear of the chasing pack. The visitors had already shown they could compete at this level, beating the hosts 4-2 in July, and returned to Thimphu to deliver a performance that left little doubt about their ambitions this term.
The opening goal arrived in the fifth minute, a quick strike that settled the visitors' nerves and set the tone for what followed. Transport United controlled the tempo from the outset, with Bhutan U19's defence struggling to find any rhythm. To be fair, the home side had looked stable in their previous outing against RTS, but this was a different proposition entirely.
The second goal came just before the break in the 48th minute, doubling the advantage and effectively ending any hope of a comeback. By then, Transport United were dominant in the air from set plays, exploiting the space Bhutan U19 had left behind. And here's the thing — we had tipped the visitors to win this fixture, and the confidence level of 41 per cent felt about right given what we'd seen.
Three more goals followed in quick succession. The 64th-minute strike extended the lead, then Abayomi Fakunle Oluwaseun added two in the 70th and 77th minutes to complete the scoring. The clean-sheet run came to an end for Bhutan U19, but the margin of defeat was never really in question after the first half.
Transport United finished with 62 per cent possession and 18 shots, seven on target. Bhutan U19 managed 41 per cent and six attempts, two on target. The expected goals figures told the same story — 2.8 for the visitors, 0.6 for the hosts. Many shots with one goal means chances went begging, but Transport United didn't need to be clinical to get over the line.
The result leaves Transport United third on 25 points, four clear of fourth place, while Bhutan U19 remain seventh on 16. The gap between them is widening, and the visitors cannot afford another slip if they want to challenge for the title. The table goes out of the window in these games, but consistency matters when the season runs long.
