Chiddi’s second hattrick, this time against Pune FC This was Mohun Bagan’s second successive away match, coming on the back of a disappointing home loss to Mumbai FC and a 2-2 draw in Goa against Sporting Clube de Goa. With injuries to quite a few key players, the pressure was truly on for the National Club of India. Could the Mariners draw on their team spirit glorious heritage to produce a much awaited win? For the hitherto winless Pune FC this was an important match too. With a packed house with supporters cheering for both sides, it was all set for a fantastic encounter despite the poor weather earlier this week which had rendered the ground heavy and slushy. The interest of the people of Pune is at its height and Pune FC needs to win some encounters in a hurry if they are to keep pulling people to the ground.
Mohun Bagan started on a cautious note, going for a 4-5-1 combination. The whole idea was to consolidate the midfield and then to go for counter attack. For the first ten minutes or so the home team dominated somewhat, but the Bagan defence, led by an inspired Dipak Mondal, held firm. Shilton looked assured right from the start. As the game unfolded, the Snehasish-Marcos-Tomba-Chiddi combination gradually began to stamp their authority on the park. In the 13th minute Snehasish was brought down just outside the Pune FC box, but Marcos hit the resultant free-kick straight at the goalkeeper.
Pune were back in the attack after that, and the game was still wide open. On the half-hour mark Tomba and Manish combined gracefully to open things up for Snehasish, but his effort went just over the bar. Pune counterattacked almost immediately, but Edmar shot wide. This was end-to-end football at its best!
And then came the breakthrough for Mohun Bagan, when Chiddi scored in style in the 38th minute! (1-0). Within minutes the Nigerian, after getting the ball from James, sublimely dribbled past three opponents before shooting just wide! Then Pune counter-attacked, and had the ball in Bagan’s net just before half-time, but the goal was disallowed for some infringement. Then Pune’s goalkeeper Subrata Paul collided with Chiddi, resulting in some heat! It was a hectic end to a fascinating first half, and Mohun Bagan were in 1-0 ahead.
The second half started with Mohun Bagan on the attack. Five minutes into the half a Chiddi sent in a stiff shot off a Snehasish cross, but Subrata punched it away. Within a couple of minutes Chiddi turned his marker beautifully, but his shot went just over. Thereafter Pune tried to get back into the game, but Bagan’s midfield and defence kept their nerve admirably. Then, twenty minutes into the second half Chiddi showed his class again when his powerful shot from the edge of the Pune box was too hot for India’s number one goalkeeper to handle! (2-0).
Pune FC still came at Bagan, but the defence held firm. And then half an hour into the second half it was Pune’s defence which wilted again. A mis-pass was latched onto by Tomba, whose measured through found Chiddi. Chiddi calmly stroked it home and completed his hat trick. (3-0) Chiddi was on fire and so was Mohun Bagan! Chiddi was replaced by Branco Cardozo in the 92nd minute and almost unbelievably, he went off to a standing ovation. This was spectator behaviour at its best.
The dying moments of the game had a small twist, Surkumar brought down Arata Izumi inside the Bagan box and the refree obliged by pointing to the spot and booking Surkumar. Douhou converted the resulting spotkick (3-1) and Pune FC had pulled one back. But the clock was up and refree blew for the final time.
Teams:
Mohun Bagan: Shilton, Surkumar, Dipak,Rakesh, Mohanraj, James, Manish, Tomba (Zenith 84), Marcos, Snehasish (Ishfaq 78), Chiddi (Branco 92)
Pune FC:Subrata, Sunil Kumar (Manoj 86), Caitano, Selwyn, Tokov, Godwin, Kuttymani (Asim Hassan 74), Djidjia, Venkatesh, Arata, Edmar (Vignesh 66)
Picture courtesy: Sangbad Pratidin