Mohun Bagan fans continue to remain upset in this season. Bagan fans were upset not because of Debashish Dutta, a journalist of a vernacular newspaper unnecessarily maligning the club and its supporter while reporting a cricket match. Many Bagan supporters have serious doubts over the credentials of the journalist and they tend to ignore him. But fans and supporters of Bagan feel sorry for the performance of the team in this season. Bagan failed to win 4 tournaments the team participated and in all four occasions the team remained “Runners Up” – reminding of 2004!

Bagan played well in the first half – created lots of opportunities – but failed to score more than one goal. Chidi scored the one in 36th minute.

In the second half Churchill kept pressure on Bagan defense – and Bagan failed to maintain the advantage and conceded 2 goals – first in 49th minute (Odafa) and then in 69th minute (Charan Rai). 

Odafa’s goal was from an offside – but nevertheless the referee ignored it and Bagan was deprived of a chance to win the first trophy of the season.

Mohun Bagan came from behind and beat Southern Samity 2-1 in a nail biting encounter at Yuva Bharati Stadium today. Chiddi and Ashim Biswas scored for the Mariners whereas Edmilson scored for the Southern Samity.

Mohun Bagan reaches the final of IFA Shield today by beating Southern Samity 2-1. Mohun Bagan started in 4-4-2 combination with Chiddi and Ashim in the forwad line. Edmilson converted a direct free kick from the edge of the penalty  box in 9th minute of the match. The goal came against the flow of the match. It was a much needed wake up call for the Mariners. They came back into the match and Chiddi’s header from a corner makes it 1-1. After this it was Mohun Bagan all the way. But they had to wait till 80th minute when Ashim got a loose ball as the opponent keeper made a mistake and the ace striker made no mistake to convert it.

Mohun Bagan will take on Churchill Brothers in the final on Thursday, 31st Match, 2011.

Choi canceled out an own-goal from Narugopal to ensure Chirag finishes the last match of the IFA Shield with a draw. But as per FIFA rule there is no same side goal, so the match commissioner declared Ashim Biswas as the scorer as the last touch had come from his foot. Mohun Bagan’s Trophy hope continues as Bagan finished top of the group. Last time Mohun Bagan won this trophy was in 2003. Mohun Bagan played in the final 3 times in last 5 occasions but failed to win the title.

Bagan started off well – however, fitness is of real concern. Only 3 players ( one goalkeeper , one stopper and one side back) were there in the reserve bench while none of the players of foreign origin were available for the game.

However in the 11th minute Bagan got the lead when Narugopal conceded an own goal. In the 60th minute Choi converted a penalty into a goal to make it 1-1. Gouranga got couple of chances, and Ashim created panic in chirag box from time to time – but failed to break Chirag defense. Chirag played exceptionally well in the second half – Deepak and the team had a tough time – Deepak was off colour today.

Bagan might face Churchill Borthers in the semi-final. Last time they met in this trophy was in the final of the last occasion – and Bagan went down against CB.

Team:

Mohun Bagan: Sangram, Sukumar, Dipak (Sagram Mandi), Kingshuk, Biswajit, Gouranga, Rahul Kumar, Jayanta Sen, Dipendu Dowari, Ishfaq Ahmed, Ashim Biswas

Mohun Bagan’s dream of winning 2011 IFA Shield to commemorate 1911 victory is alive after Bagan convincingly won against Pune FC by 2-0 in a Group league match. Chidi Edeh scored both the goals for Mohun Bagan in the first half of the game.

Major expectations were not there since the team is suffering from injuries, while Mohunbaganclub.com has learn that  few players were upset with the TD’s research work on the first XI. However, the team had a positive approach and attacked the opponents right from the word GO. Gouranga was on the left flank while Satish on the right – and though Gouranga adjusted this position well Satish was seen struggling.

In the 14h minute Gouranga was tripped on the edge of the box – and Bagan got a direct freekick. Chidi converted that into a goal in the 16th minute.

In the 32nd minute Ishfaq replaced Satish and switched position with Gouranga. More attacks came from both the flanks – particularly gouranga was really plaing well.

Moreover defense played well. This gave the moral boost to the striking zone, though Muritalal continued missing chances.

In the 42nd minute Chidi scored from a cross from Ishfaq.  In the second half Pune FC went for 3 quick changes- but failed to come back into the game. However, Bagan created few more opportunities – but failed to convert them into goals.

Bagan has got two wins and a draw and needs at least one point against Chirag to move into semifinal.

Mohun Bagan AC’s letter to IFA. After their second match of IFA Shield Mohun Bagan is suffering from huge injury problem. Today’s new inclusions are Jose Barreto, Harpreet Singh. Along with others who are already missing the matches. The letter is given hereunder.

Dear Sir,

We regret to inform you that the artificial turf laid at YBK Stadium is causing lot of injury problems to the players. We have noticed that since the artificial turf was laid, players are getting niggling injuries.

We are not getting any home team advantage either. Our vital players, Jose Marcio Barreto Ramires and Harpreet Singh sustained serious injuries during the IFA Shield match played today against Techno Aryan. We had a talk with all our players and they are just not comfortable with the turf and they feel that it is detrimental to football.

We are aware that a huge sum of money has been invested in laying of this artificial turf but if we continue to ignore the problems caused by the turf, it will be harmful for all of us in the long run. We request you to please contact the Sports Department, Government of West Bengal and also obtain expert opinion from AFC and FIFA about this turf and to sort out this problem. Till such time, we urge you not to schedule any competitive football match at the YBK Stadium.

Your support and cooperation for the cause of Football is eagerly solicited.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully, Anjan Kumar Mitra

Managing Director

United Mohun Bagan Football Team Pvt. Ltd.

Despite rough and nasty challenges by the opponents through out the match, Ashim scored and the team maintained the lead as the Mariners earned full points against Aryans Club in IFA Shield encounter.

First of all, kudos to our technical director and the coach for being able to plug and pick eleven pair of legs for the much important encounter against Aryan Club when the long list of injury has been haunting in the squad. The list is ever increasing after each outing and even after each training session. Despite all odds, we must give full credit to these gentlemen, who could put forward a game plan in place realizing the limitation of our squad and the plan worked as the Mariners earned full points from this match.

Team:

Mohun Bagan: Sangram, Surkumar, Dipak, Kingshuk, Biswajit, Gouranga, Jayanta, Barreto (Harpreet) (Rahul) (Dipundu), Ishfaq, Ashim, Chidi.

In spite of taking early lead, Mohun Bagan settles for a draw in the opening encounter of IFA Shield campaign against Lajong FC. Ashim Biswas finds the net for the Mariners while Zenith equalized for Lajong FC. With a long list of injury, it was a tough time for the Mohun Bagan officials to choose the first XI. Except Deepak Mondal and Chidi, no other
first team players were available for the service in the starting line up in the opening encounter of a tournament like IFA Shield, with which Mohun Bagan have been sharing a deep rooted legacy and prestige for last 100 years !! It is shocking but nevertheless true.

With Chidi and Ashim in the forward line, Mohun Bagan started off cautiously in 4-4-2 formation realizing the limitation of the team as well as the adverse weather situation. It looked like a dead rubber as none of the teams could take the control in the mid-field. Couple of solo initiatives at times by Chidi, Ashim or Snehasis were not good enough to bother the Lajong defense. Mariners finally broke the jinx in 32nd minute of the match when Ashim’s header from Satish’s floater from the corner flag finds the net (1-0).  However, the joy was short lived for the Mariners as Lajong took the initiative immediately and started putting pressure on the opponents. Ishfaq and Barreto came as the substitutes in the second half but failed make any major impact. On the other hand, it was Zenith of Lajong FC took an amazing free kick on 67th minute to stun the Mariners (1-1).
Undoubtedly injury and weather can be major factors for such a mediocre performance for the Mariners. However, the squad and the think tanks must realize that the time is running out thick and fast before they could put some good performance so that millions of supporters could regain their hope to add any more feather in the trophy room

Team:

Mohun Bagan: Sangram, Nazimuddin, Dipak, Kingshuk, Dhanrajan, Gouranga, Jayanta, Dipendu (Biswajit), Satish (Ishfaq), Chidi, Ashim (Barreto).

Bagan conceded 4 goals at Goa against Dempo. Bagan team with full strength except Barreto, who was in the reserve bench. T.D. Subhas Bhowmick told earlier before match started that 3 points is the primary target but one point could be alright for his team.

From the starting of the match Bagan started to initiate some good attacks but could not able to convert those attacks to goal. In the 27th minute of the match from brilliant cross from Beto Climax Lawrence drew the first blood of Bagan defence through a dynamic head. Shilton was unmoved and he had nothing to do with that goal. Dhanrajan was spectator this time. (0-1).

Just two minutes after the first goal Clifford Miranda scored the second for Dempo from a through of Ranti,  again all the defenders looked like spectator and Shilton tried but couldn’t able to stop Clifford to put the ball inside the net. (0-2).

Till the end of the first half Bagan defence was literally shivering by the frquent attacks of  the Goan giant. Meanwhile Shilton was seemed to be injured before half time. But in the second half no change made by Mohun Bagan TD. But Bagn conceded another goal via Ranti Martins from a pass of Beto in the 47th minute (0-3). For this goal injury of Shilton is mainly liable. In the 49th minute Sangram came in the field for Shilton.  But frequency of Dempo attacks was hard to tolerate by Bagan defence. In the 67th minute Snehasis was replaced by Barreto. In the 68th minute Anwar made a goalline save and stop his team to concede the goal no. 4. But not too late Bagan conceded the goal no. 4 in the 72nd minute via Clifford Miranda (0-4). In the 87th minute Muritala Ali scored a consolation goal for Mariners (1-4). Clifford Miranda was adjudged Man of the match.

Mohun Bagan will now play the next match against Shillong Lajong in the IFA Shield encounter at Salt Lake Stadium at 2.00 pm on Monday 14th March.

Bagan will play their next i-League match on 3rd of April against Mumbai FC at Kolhapur.

Team:

Mohun Bagan: Shilton (Sangram), Surkumar, Dipak, Anwar, Dhanrajan, Snehasis (Barreto), Rakesh Masih, Jayanta, Ishfaq (Satish), Chidi, Muritala.