Mohun Bagan began their Fed Cup campaign with 1-0 victory against Mumbai FC. Christopher Chizoba is the only scorer for Bagan, while Bagan should have win the match at least 3 goals, if Ram Malik and Christopher would be more perfect. Ram Malik missed the open net in fact. Odafa Okolie did not play today’s match, though there was a news that he can play from the beginning. Karim might have been taken a chance to start without him. However, Bagan snatched the victory over Mumbai FC in the first match of Fed Cup. Bagan will next play against Shillong Lajong on Saturday from 4 pm at Cochin. Meanwhile, in another match Shillong Lajong today thrashed Sakgaocar by 4-0. It means, the next match for Bagan is the must win match. Point table of Group C below.

 https://www.mohunbaganclub.com/points_view.php?fid=NDA=

Mohun Bagan defeated Shilong Lajong by 1-0 in their first encounter of 32nd Fed Cup at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack Muritala Ali scored the only goal in the 21st minute of the match. Kingshuk Debnath was shown red card due to double booking. Shilton Paul was brilliant under the goal as he foiled several Lajong attacks and ensured the victory for his team. Sagram Mandi and Dhanrajan have also played well.

The ground of Barabati Stadium was not conducive for good football due to heavy rain and regular matches. The ball was not rolling properly due to water clogging. Bagan started off with two strikers Barreto and Muritala. Chidi was not fit for the match due to his injury.  Diamondstar, was in a new role – played as defensive medio. Sagram Mandi and Karan Atwal were in the central defence, Dhanrajan and Kingshuk Debnath was in the starting line up as side backs. Snehasis, Manish and Ishfaq were in the midfield along with Diamondstar.

From the begining of the match Bagan was in the attacking mode. In the 3rd minute of the match Muritala Ali reached to the penalty box of Lajong, but missed the target. After that several Bagan attacks were initiated by Snehasis, Ishfaq, Barreto and Muritala but nothing changed the scoresheet in favour of Mohun Bagan. Finally in the 20th minute of the match Bagan got a corner and Snehasis took the corner, while Muritala scored it from a header. It was 1-0.

After that Lajong changed the gear and started to create pressure in Mohun Bagan’s defence. Shilton displayed his class and rescued his team number of  occasions. In the 36th minute of the match Bagan’s Kingshuk Debnath was shown yellow card due to wasting the time, and, after a minute later he was shown second yellow as he committed a foul on Lajong player. Bagan was down to 10 men army as Kingsuk had to leave the ground. Just before the halftime Diamondstar passed the ball to Ishfaq and Ishfaq made it for Barreto for final assault, but Lajong defender cleared the ball before reaching it to Barreto.

In the second half Bagan again started in attacking mode but didn’t found goal. This time Ishfaq was playing in right back position, whereas Barreto was operating from little deeper and Muritala was the lone striker . Bagan was playing with 10 men, so Coach Stanley Rozario had to make that adjustment in the team.

Meanwhile Shillong Lajong was attacking more than Mohun Bagan and Shilton was unquestionable under the goal. What a match it was for him!!

In the 70th minute Snehasis was replaced by Gouranga Dutta.

In the 88th minute of the match Barreto got the ball from Muritala and his grounder shot passed the goal narrowly. It was the most easiest chance of the match so far because goalkeeper was lying on the ground that time.

Mohun Bagan may get edeh Chidi but miss Kingshuk Debnath in the next match against Mumbai FC. Next match will be held on 24th September from 6.45 pm onwards.

Mohun Bagan line up: Shilton, Kinsgshuk, Sagram Mandi, Karan Atwal, Dhanrajan, Ishfaq, Diamondstar, Manish, Snehasis (Gouranga 70′), Barreto, Muritala.

 Today’s Match – Fact Sheet At A Glance