Mohun Bagan defeats Railway FC by 3-0. Tulunga scoring hattrick. Bagan continued to display brilliant football like first two matches. This is their third successive 3-0 victory. Mohun Bagan continued its spectacular performance by defeating Railway FC 3-0, this is the third successive match in which Mariners have scored three goals, this time Malswamtluanga scoring hattrick. Mohun Bagan striker Lalampuia missed an easy opportunity off corner when he headed the ball out on 4 minutes from a handshaking distance. Railway FC made few attacks and took few shots but none of them could cause any problem to Sangram and Odafe was as usual rock solid in defence.

At 16 minutes, Barreto got a ball inside box and trapped it beautifully but due to uneven bounce he could not trap the ball properly or head it inside the goal, a valiant effort indeed from the man. In 37th minute, Tulunga scored the first goal when he trapped the ball beautifully inside box off a gem of a pass from Barreto and cool headedly finished by lobing the ball over onrushing goalkeeper. This was the result off a brilliant attack when James Jr. had passed the ball to Barreto. Within minutes, Tulunga doubled his account when off a Lalkamal Bhowmick corner, Odafa headed beautifully which went straight to Tulunga who just tapped the ball inside goal, a great opportunistic goal indeed.

Mariners started 2nd half with same pace as attacked with pace. In 51st minute, off a Ishfaq corner, Lalampuia missed an easy chance off James pass. On 60th minute, Tulunga attacked from right side and almost scored but his shot was well saved by Rail goalkeeper. Kareem then made two quick changes bringing in Henry in place of Lalampuia and Branco in place of Ishfaq. With inclusion of Branco, Mohun Bagan gained momentum and off his brilliant pass from left side in 82nd minute, Tulunga got the ball inside box, trapped beautifully and finished off a thumping right footer, indeed the best goal of the match. In 84th minute, Naveen Kumar came in place of Odafa who was a little injured and Kareem took no chance. Naveen Kumar went to right back position and Habibur went to stopper. In 90th minute, Barreto almost had passed to Tulunga who could have scored his fourth goal but the ball was well intercepted by defender.

For Mariners, Sangram was brilliant like last two matches and he is oozing with confidence. Such was his confidence level that once he collected a ball off a shot of a Railway FC player almost in the height of the post, which any goalkeeper would have fisted the ball for corner. In defence, Odafa displayed supreme form and hardly made any mistake. However, Vasan was slightly off color today and he made many mistakes today. Suman was quite good today but Habibur was a little shaky. In midfield, Ishfaq and Tulunga performed their job to perfection and attacked nicely via the flanks. Junior James was in first team today since James Sr. showed off form in last match. Junior James was okay but have to improve a lot. Same goes for Lalkamal. Railway FC was easily attacking and reaching Bagan box, the blocking and tackling will have to improve in Bagan medio. Barreto as usual showed his class by some brilliant passes to his team mates. Lalampuia missed few chances but otherwise was okay. Branco is doing very well as substitute. Overall team Mohun Bagan is playing brilliant football and has got 9 points from 3 matches. They will play their next match on 22nd against CalcuttaPort Trust.

Meanwhile, NIIT has become cosponsor of McDowell Mohun Bagan football club and they will give 18 lakh for this KPL. MB players will use their logo in their sleeves and shorts.

TEAM: Sangram, Suman, Vashan, Odafa (Naveen Kumar 84), Habibur, Tulunga, James Singh Jr., Lalkamal, Ishfaq (Branco 75), Barreto, Lalampuia (Henry 69)

NIIT has been named as new co-sponsor for Mohun Bagan This sponsorship is limited to the Sahara Calcutta Football League’2008 matches only and is worth of Rs.18Lacs. Mohunbagan officials and NIIT Authority all of them are quite eager to continue a long term relationship with each other. MB players will use their logo in their sleeves and shorts.

In a press meet today at Kolkata, Mr. Surajit Biswas of NIIT has offered every player from Sahara CFL-2008 for a free 12hours Computer Course in their Institute absolutely free. But all the players have to go through Mohunbagan’s reference. Mr. Biswas also told that "in IT-Training, Software we are the big name so we want to merge with another name which is really a big name. That is why Mohunbagan is with us today, because Mohunbagan is a giant of Indian football also."

Mr. Anjan Mitra, Hony. General Secretary of Mohunbagan A.C. told today, "every footballer has to know about computer, internet etc beside playing football. This is the first effort from us for that cause."

Barreto hattrick helped Mariners win the 2nd match of Sahara CFL-2008 Bagan win the match 3-1 against Chirag United today. In a match where the rain god and bad light almost threatened to play spoil sport, and the new Bagan squad was looking a tad out of touch, the ever dependable Barreto rose to the occassion and netted thrice with lethal precision. Overall Mohun Bagan did not play good football like first game but Barreto magic ensured 3 points. From the start of the match, Mohun Bagan midfield was under pressure and Barreto and Lalam were not getting much help from them and thus very little chance was created. In fact, Chirag took charge of early proceeding and looked better at this time with Sankar and Gouranga playing good football.

For Bagan, Odafa was rock solid in defence with support from Vashan. Ishfaq was trying hard in left flank. In 26th minute, Barreto scored his first goal with ease after he gave a ball to Ishfaq on left who centered the ball back and Barreto pushed it in with ease past the Chirag custodian. Arindam could not react, such was the placement. Just after the goal, Maxi missed an easy goal for Chirag from a Gourango pass.

In 2nd half, Bagan looked solid and Barreto scored his 2nd goal in 52nd minute via a Ishfaq cross which he headed home to perfection, a trademark striker goal. Within 8 minutes, Barreto completed his hattrick, this time also Ishfaq provided the ball and Barreto hold the ball in the box and shoot home with a left footed grounder with goalkeeper beaten all ends up. Achinta Saha scored a late goal for Chirag due to defensive lapse after Sangram had made a valiant save from a cross from the left side. There was heavy downpour towards the end of the match and Chirag appealed for bad light and wasted 5 minutes. However, the conditions improved with better visibility and the rain subsiding and the match, was completed without any further incidents except a pulled muscle of Habibur and a nasty tackle on Branco, which the referee, oddly, overlooked.

After the match, when Kareem was asked about Barreto, he promptly answered, "You guys keep on asking about Barreto’s form and the man has answered time again all your queries on the field."

In half time, Mohun Bagan under-12 players who won the Indian leg of Yakult Danone Nations Cup in Delhi on Saturday, did a lap of honour at the club ground. They will be honored on MB day on 29th July. The team will represent India in Nations Cup finals in Paris from September 4 to 7.

 TEAM: Sangram, Habibur Rahman, Peter Odafe, Anand Vasin, Rahul Kumar, Sanjoy Boro (Lal Ram Luaha 65), Lalkamal, L. James Singh (S. James Singh 61), Ishfaq, PC Lalampuiya (Branco 77), Jose Barreto

Yellow Cards: Lalkamal, Ishfaq, Lal Ram Luaha

Goals: Barreto (26, 52, 60)

 Pic Courtesy: Achintya Roy