I-LEAGUE Media Team

KOLKATA: McDowell’s Mohun Bagan continued their unbeaten streak in the Hero I-League as they got past Salgaocar FC with a 3-1 scoreline at a packed Barasat Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Sony Norde, Katsumi Yusa, and Denson Devadas scored for MMB, while Augustin Fernandes remained the sole goalscorer for Salgaocar.

Sanjoy Sen was forced to bring in Jeje Lalpekhlua to the squad with Balwant Singh missing out due to an injury, and Dhanachandra Singh came back in replacing Sukhen Dey.

Derrick Pereira meanwhile started with Daryl Duffy on the bench with Douhou Pierre deployed behind Jason Vales who started furthest forward. Augustin Fernandes partnered Francis Kasonde in central defense.

It took about twenty three minutes for the first real chance of the match. Katsumi Yusa sent in a searching corner from the right towards the far post which Denson Devadas headed towards goal. It was only a diving Subrata Paul who kept his team from conceding.

In a match devoid of any goalmouth action it was Salgaocar who had a chance of their own in the 42nd minute after Darryl Duffy was thrown into the match. Duffy brushed aside Bello Rasaq’s challenge and held the ball before expertly playing it towards Gilbert Oliviera who was in acres of space down the right. The winger’s shot though was parried out by Debjit Majumder in goal with Zakeer Mundampara’s snapshot going horribly wide.

The match got off to a thundering start with the home side finding the net in the 51st minute. After Jeje was fouled down the left, Sony Norde sent in a teasing delivery into the box which Denson Devadas toe poked into the net.

Salgaocar replied back almost immediately as Augustin Fernandes equalized after just two minutes, from close range after Douhou Pierre’s ball had caught the entire Mariners’ defense sleeping. This was just after Daryl Duffy had tested with a shot from just outside the box, which the Mohun Bagan custodian managed to parry out.

It was following another set piece that Mohun Bagan got back into the lead in the 70th minute. Sony Norde’s corner from the right was not cleared by the Greens’ defense allowing Bikramjit Singh to take a pop from outside the box. It was Boya who picked up the rebound among the legs in the box and shot only to be parried out by Subrata Paul. However Katsumi was clear down the left and he caressed the ball into the open net.

It was a masterclass from the Haitian in the 85th minute to put the match beyond any doubt. After receiving a pass from his own half down the left, Sony decided to take on both central defenders and left them for dead as he cut inside. However his final shot was out of the world as he gave Subrata Paul no chance, with a cracking effort from outside the box.

It could have got even better for the Mariners as Sony Norde took a great freekick from the left as regulation time was over. Katsumi who was clear on the far post failed to head the ball onto the target.

The Mariners’ win was however soured when five minutes into added time, Bikramjit Singh was sent off for a second yellow card. Daryl Duffy stepped up to take the freekick just on the edge of the box but only struck the wall.

Mohun Bagan thus manage to cement their place on the top of the table even if either of Royal Wahingdoh or Bengaluru FC are victorious in the other game today.

Hero of the Match – Sony Norde.