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