Dempo thrashed Mohun Bagan 4-1 in Kolkata, which moved them a inch closer to their fourth league title. N.S. Manju gave the hosts an early lead but in second half spectators of Salt lake Stadium saw an emphatic display Armando Colaco’s team while Beto (2), Ranti Martins and Joaquim Abranches scored 4 goals to almost ensure the league title.

Mohun Bagan came into this on the back of consecutive home wins over Air India and Mahindra. So they were determined to continue their revival under Biswajit Bhattacharya with a strong performance against Dempo.

Dempo had beaten East Bengal in round 20, and they were confident of another good showing away from home in the 7th minute when Manju scored from a corner of Marcos with a delightful left footed volley .

Dempo was struggling in the entire first half as Chiddi, Sueoka, Barreto got a lot of chances to score for Bagan but it was 1-0 at the first half with strong performance of Mariners.

After the lemon break in the second half  Dempo looked a totally different side and in 47th minute  Beto scored the equalizer from a corner. (1-1)

Seven minutes later the league leaders took the lead when Ranti Martins scored with a very neat finish after receiving a fine pass from Joaquim Abranches. (1-2)

In the 60th minute Joaquim Abranches scored from a corner as Shilton Paul was caught out of position. (1-3)

Just four minutes later Beto scored his second and team’s fourth by a clean header from a cross of Anthony Perreria. (1-4)

After that few chances were created by mariners but those were not enough to hit and break  the solid wall of Dempo.

Mahindra’s draw against Pune means Dempo are now nine points clear at the top with only three rounds remaining.

Teams:

Dempo: Abhijit, John, Antao (Anwar), Carvalho, Climax (Jwell) , Beto, Anthony, Naik, Ranty, Abranches, Rebello.

Mohun Bagan: Shilton (Sangram) , Sur Kumar, Deepak, Manju, Biswajit, Marcos, Seuoka, Manish(James), Isfaq (Snehasish), Chidi, Barreto.

Picture Courtesy : Sangbad Pratidin

It does not get any bigger than this for Mohun Bagan. If Bagan loses points, advantage Chirag United. If team Mohun Bagan secures full 3points, then they are very close to retain the Kolkata League title.

Picture Courtesy: AAJKAAL

Mohun Bagan fails to get past a 10-men kingfisher East Bengal. The match ends to a goal-less draw in Sahara Perimier League clash at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here today.

 As Mohun Bagan yet again let a winning chance slip by, the players’ physical pains will be nothing to the fans adn supporters’ mental frustration of being forced to accept another draw against East Bengal.

East Bengal were reduced to 10 men when Harmanjot Singh Khabra was sent off in the 73rd minute after a nasty tackle on Snehashish Chakraborty but Mohun Bagan’s strike duo of Jose Ramirez Barreto and Edeh Chidi did not get enough supply from mid-field to take full points from the match. KEB goalkeeper Gurpreet did well to save some sure goals at the dying moments.

Mohun Bagan defeated Air India by 4-0 and brought much needed win for the team. Sueoka and Marcos scored one goal each while Barreto scored twice. 2nd goal of Barreto was the gem of a goal.
However, after six matches Mariners saw themselves on the victory stand. Mariners defeated Air India also in the 1st leg by 5 goals, where Jose Barreto scored hat-trick.

In the match Surkumar Singh and Sangram Mukherjee was missed due to injury, Zenith and Shilton Paul were there in the team in place of them. This was the second match of the coach 3^rd coach of the season for Bagan Biswajit Bhattacharya, in the first match Bhattacharya saw a drawn encounter against Salgaocar S.C.

 The home side started in style when in the 7^th minute of the match Ryuji Sueoka converted a solo effort past Arnab Das Sharma. (1-0).

In the 21st minute Bagan from a free-kick Brazilian Marcos Pereira scored a wonderful goal a by a direct curling shot and Air India goal-keeper remained stand still.

However in the 32^nd minute Air India missed a golden opportunity through Kailash Patil and N.D. Opara.

 In the second half both the teams off to a positive start. In the 60^th minute Jose Barreto scored a goal from a pass of Isfaq Ahmed and made the score line much better for mariners. (3-0).Eight minutes later once again a Barreto magic made score line 4-0 for Bagan and it was a geam of a goal. From a flick of Snehasis who came in for Isfaq, Barreto sends a magical volley right in to the net and gave his critics a solid reply.

 Team:

Shilton, Zenith, Dipak, Manju, Biswajit, Ishfaq (Snehasis), Marcos, Manish (James), Sueoka, Chidi, Barreto

Remember the “High altitude” controversy of the Bolivia – Argentina match where Bolivia routed Argentina 6-1 ? The South American Associations were outraged. FIFA now wants an opinion from selective football teams all over the world. And Mohun Bagan is going to be a part of it.

mohunbaganclub.com has learnt that  FIFA has approached Mohun Bagan and Chirag United to have football matches at moderate and high altitudes to understand the likelihood of sea-level teams winning at home against the same opponents who have descended from altitude. The clubs will play in Kolkata (August 3rd) and in Leh, Kashmir (11th August). 

FIFA are to rule, on medical grounds, that whether international football matches can take place above the altitude of 2500 meters. One can understand the desire to protect the health and wellbeing of the athletes, but with this ruling, the common feeling is, where does it all end? First altitude, then rain, heat or humidity?

FIFA will impose a new law based upon the findings.

Meanwhile Mohun Bagan has written a letter to the Hon. President of AFC. The Club has suggested that

1. emphasis should be given on Youth Development

2. affiliated units must have residential Football Academies and youth teams  and AIFF must bear 50% of the expenses for the same.

3. Regular training and development of Referees, coaches and Administrators must happen

4. AFC must monitor fund utilization of AIFF

Mohun Bagan’s coach Biswajit Bhattacharya has revealed that the team he got looks to be in shape and that his appointment as the third coach in the season would have been pounced upon by critics, slavering to find somewhere – or someone – to put the blame for any debacle whatsoever.

 Obviously, to bring the team into the winning track, he would take some necessary steps, that includes change in the first XI and focusing on the team work.