Late burst gives Bagan an easy win
If Mohun Bagan thought they would have it easy against Mohammedan Sporting, A. Jothi Kumar forced them to think otherwise with a stunning equaliser. But aided by a late burst which fetched two goals, including one from comeback man Jose Barreto, the defending champions proved too good in the end, reports Somshuvra Laha.
If Mohun Bagan thought they would have it easy against Mohammedan Sporting, A. Jothi Kumar forced them to think otherwise with a stunning equaliser. But aided by a late burst which fetched two goals, including one from comeback man Jose Barreto, the defending champions proved too good in the end.
Barreto's brace in the first Group B encounter of the 31st Federation Cup here on Monday took him past 200 goals in Indian football. The Brazilian bomber now has 201 goals in nine seasons in India, eight of them with Mohun Bagan.
Barreto made his intentions clear in the first minute but his header, off a James Singh cross, was slightly off the mark. He was on target five minutes later though, heading in James's centre, off Sueoka Ryuji corner-kick, that brushed defender Amrit Pal Singh's head before beating Mohammedan Sporting goalkeeper Naseem Akhtar.
At that point, Shabbir Ali's boys looked listless and disorganized especially while facing Mohun Bagan central defenders Deepak Mondal and Sheikh Azeem. Mohun Bagan looked menacing with both Edeh Chidi and Barreto operating at full throttle and Ryuji playing in the hole behind the frontliners.
It took Liberian Theodore Wrobeh and Brazilian Eduardo Escobar, Mohammedan Sporting's best bet upfront, to try and break the shackles with some long-rangers.
The equaliser though had a touch of class. Skipper Jothi Kumar, after receiving a deflected pass from Wrobeh, hoodwinked Surkumar Singh and slammed the ball home at the far post.
Mohammedan Sporting's euphoria was shortlived as Mohun Bagan struck again, this time with Barreto finding James on the right and the wide midfielder's inch-perfect cross being met with a powerful Ryuji
header. Post the lemon break, Mohammedan Sporting looked more enterprising and Sovan Chakraborty's corner-kick six minutes from time was almost let in by Sangram Mukherjee who fisted into the horizontal.
Barreto struck again in the final minute of regulation time. Collecting a pass from Chidi, the Brazilian superbly sidestepped defender Rajib Ghosh to flick home. Chidi added to Mohammedan Sporting's woes in added time with long-range cannonball that a lunging Akhtar could only get a hand on.
“It's a positive sign that all the foreigners have scored. Mohammedan Sporting fought well but better fitness and good finishes helped us win this crucial match,” Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa said.
Mohammedan Sporting coach Shabbir put it down to 'bad luck' adding “but at least we fought when nobody gave us any chance. We can still turn around.”
Mahindra break Chirag spirits
Chirag United couldn't get off to a good start in the Federation Cup as they lost 1-2 to Mahindra United in Group B on Monday.
Sushil Kumar Singh and NP Pradeep scored in each half half but Chirag United threatened to come back in the game after Edmilson Marques pulled one back through a penalty. However, the Mumbai side successfully pegged them back to bag all three points.
ON the Tube: In Guwahati: Dempo vs Pune FC: 3.30 pm on Zee Sports & 24 Ghanta Lajong FC vs Air India: 6pm on Zee Sports