Mariners beat Peerless by 2-1 in their first match in the 2nd leg of the Sahara CFL-2008. In 22nd minute of the match Peerless had taken early lead by a goal of Emanuel. Mohunbagan equalized within 10 minutes via Lalam Puia. In 52nd minute Barreto scored his 4th goal of the season. Mohun Bagan are now leading table with 19 points from 8 matches. Jose Barreto became Simoco Mobile Man of the Match. This was Mohun Bagan’s first match in the return league. Mohun Bagan was in an attacking mood right from the start of the match.

Mohun Bagan defeated Peerless today 2-1 in a Premier Division League match held in Salt Lake Stadium.  Within minutes Barreto missed a sitter, with goalkeeper standing in first post, instead of placing the ball in the far post, he chose the wrong end and shoot the ball wide. Then Mohun Bagan was denied a goal off a corner which Rakesh Masih had headed beautifully and the ball had cleared the goalline (TV replay suggested this) when Peerless defender cleared the bal. With James Sr. and Lalramluah moving via the right flank and Lalkamal and Lalampuia operating via left, Mariners continued to press and in 14th minute, James Sr. gave a long ball to Lalampuia who trapped the ball nicely and took a powerful shot which was just saved by the Port custodian. Two minutes later, James Sr. played pass with Barreto and his center from the right side found Lalampuia but who, instead of passing to Barreto who had moved to an open position, wanted to take the shot himself but was intercepted by Peerless defence. Suddenly against the run of play on 22nd minute, Peerless took the lead when Emmanuel headed the ball in off a center from the right side. Odafe was unable to mark Emmanuel properly who took an easy head. Apart from initial few runs, Lalramluah was disappointing and was replaced by Kartick Kisku on 25th minute. Mariners equalized in 32nd minute, Odafe took a long throw which went straight to Lalampuia who just pushed the ball in, an opportunistic goal from the in-form striker. The last 10 minutes or so of the half was dominated by Peerless but the defenders managed to thwart danger.

 

 Mariners went ahead in 52nd minute when from a Mohanraj center from the left side, Barreto took a left footer from an acute angle which went into goal past full stretched goalkeeper. Coach then made two changes, bringing on Sanjay Boro and Rino Anto in place of injured Mohanraj and James Singh Sr.  Towards the end of the match, Bagan missed three easy chances to score, Barreto missed one while Lalampuia missing two easy chances with only goalkeeper to beat. In 87th minute, Barreto got a ball past defender and had to just beat goalkeeper but he tried to lob the ball above goalkeeper’s head but the ball ballooned away. In 89th minute, Lalampuia missed the easiest chance of the match when off a splendid Barreto center Lalampuia had to just nod the ball in but could not connect the ball properly and pushed the ball straight to goalkeeper. Though Barreto missed a couple of chances but he was in awsome form and layed brilliant football and he was rightly adjudged Man of the Match. Odafe was shown yellow card in 2nd half, this is his second booking and he will miss the match against Chirag on August 17 to be held at Mohun Bagan ground.

 

TEAM:  Sangram, Habibur, Vashan, Odafe, Mohanraj (Rino Anto 62), Rakesh Masih, Lalramluah (Kartick Kisku 25), Lalkamal, James Singh Sr. (Sanjay Boro 61), Barreto, Lalampuia.

 

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