Mohun Bagan continued to chase Churchill Brothers for the I-league title , after N. S Manju showed his brilliance and converted a Barreto chip to a goal 3 seconds before the final whistle. Barreto scored the first goal as Marcos gave a brilliant pass for Barreto in the right side of the box – and Barreto placed it really well – gem of a goal. This happned in the 28th minute. Ranty scored the only goal for Dempo at the 55th minute.

Later Bhaichung scored in the 33rd minute but referee canceled the goal – not sure if he was under pressure from outside the ground!!!

But the scoreline could have been 3-0 at the first half , but Referee Rizwan-ul-Haq played really well for Dempo. He first stopped Bagan from scoring a goal at the 23rd minute, and then cancelled a clear goal scored by Bhaichung. Later in the second half he overuled a demand for penalty when Bhaichung was pulled down by Samir Naik.

In one occassion he perhaps thought of showing marching order to Mahesh – whose only work was to hit Bhaichung – but Dempo players created pressure on him. Bagan got few more chances to increase the lead – Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mandal really played well and stopped Bagan from scoring more goals. The whole 1st XI played well for Bagan and Sangram was really good under the bars. He saved two long shots – one from Beto and the other from Ranty.

Both the side backs were going up and creating pressure on Dempo defense – Ishfaq, Lalkamal took load as well. Though he had taken two poor free kicks but overall Marcos led the midfield very well. James was seen playing up and down.

Bhaichung was brilliant – had his goal not been cancelled and his due penalty given, even he could have been a contender of the Man of the Match award. Also in first half he made a brilliant attempt when his side volley missed by whisker.

Barreto was awarded Man of the Match and he proved the Bengali proverb "sit grisMo borsha – Barreto-i Vorsha" (whether its winter, summer or rainy season – Barreto is the saviour) so true.

But the bad news is that Bagan will not have N. S. Manju, Rakesh Masih, Marcos Perreira and Lalkamal Bhowmik for the Mahindra match. Manju and Masih were booked for taking off their jerseys after the last goal of the match. The same referee who was so particular about showing card for taking off jersey did not show cards to Dempo players for hitting at Mariners, particularly Mahesh Gawli.

In the last round match, Mohun Bagan will face Mahindra United in Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi while Churchill will host Mohammedan Sporting in Goa. Mohun Bagan will have to win the last match and hope that Mohammedan manage to hold Churchill, in that case Mohun Bagan will become champions, but if Churchill gets 3 points from the last match, they will get the title for the first time irrespective of result of Mohun Bagan match. All the final round matches will be played on April 16th.

TEAM: Sangram, Dipak, Manju, Odafe, Habibur, Ishfaq, Marcos, Lalkamal (Masih 71′), James Singh Sr. (Branco 69′), Bhaichung, Barreto.

REACTION OF BARRETO AND MANJU AFTER SCORING THE GOALS (COURTESY GANASHAKTI)

We had a short interview of our "magician" coach Karim after the match.</p><p>

Question: Congrats for winning today’s match.

Karim: Thank you very much.

Question: Do you think Mohun Bagan will be able to win I league?

Karim: Let us hope so. We will have to win our last match and  hope something positive happen for us in the other match in Goa.

Question: What were your thoughts on bringing on Rakesh in place of Lalkamal?

Karim: Well, firstly I wanted to bring in a fresh leg. Also I wanted to use his strength in dead ball situation inside opponent penalty box. He was involved in the winning goal, he gave the long ball towards Barreto.

Question: You made a few strategical changes in 2nd half.

Karim: In first half we played 4-4-2. When we brought in Branco we switched over to 4-3-3, with Barreto, Bhaichung and Branco being forward and Marcos being the holding midfielder and Ishfaq and Rakesh in the flanks, but then I saw a huge gap was forming between Bhaichung and Marcos, so I used Diamond system for last 10 minutes or so which is 4-3-1-2 bringing Barreto down a little bit to form a bridge between forward and midfield. In injury time, I asked Manju to go up and try to flick the ball for Branco and Bhaichung and also go for header in the box during setpiece and other movements. At that time, we played with three defenders.

Question: You will miss 4 players in next match. Have you thought about whom to use in midfield in place of Rakesh, Lalkamal and Marcos?

Karim: I have been thinking about few options but would not like to disclose that now.

Question: Do you want to make any comment on Barreto.

Karim: What can I say about him? Barreto is Barreto. I am very lucky to have such a player in my team. He is a great player. All the other players are also very good in my team.

Question: Congrats once again for the win and best of luck for Mahindra match.

Karim: Thanks a lot.

            

 PICTURE COURTESY: TIMES OF INDIA

Mohun Bagan will play against Dempo in their penultimate match of I league 2008-09 on Sunday, April 12, 2009. The match will be held in Barasat stadium from 6.30 pm. This is a must win match for Mariners. Mohun Bagan now has 40 points from 20 matches and currenly in 2nd position in league table. Churchill is leading with 43 matches from 21 matches while Sporting de Goa is at 40 points from 21 matches.

Yesterday Mohun Bagan had their practice session in the morning from 8.30 a.m. Few senior players like Barreto, Bhaichung, Sangram, Manju, Ishfaq, Marcos, Dipak and Odafe had a rest day; however, today morning at same time, there will be practice session for full team. Mohun Bagan had so far played twice against Dempo this year, once in I league and the next time in Federation Cup final, both times Mohun Bagan won 1-0, Barreto scored in both matches. Barreto who played last match of AFC cup with fever is expected to be fully fit before Dempo match and Manju might also play the match.

So far this year Mohun Bagan has won Kolkata league and Federation Cup. In I league they still have a chance to win the tournament but in AFC Cup Mariners failed to win any match so far. Unluckily, Mohun Bagan’s group is the toughest group of this year’s edition of AFC Cup and team fought valiantly but lost the three matches 1-0, 2-1 and 1-0. In case of Dempo, they definitely had a great AFC Cup so far and last year also they reached semi finals but their domestic season has been poor, in Goa league they are now in 3rd position 11 points behind league leaders Churchill, could not win Federation Cup and in I league they are in 4th place 13 points behind Churchills.

Mohun Bagan will play their final round match of I league in Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi against Mahindra United on April 16th. Meanwhile, the last two round matches of Mohun Bagan in AFC Cup has been rescheduled, now they will play their away match on 5th May and home match on 19th May. The Super Cup match of Mohun Bagan will be on 26th April in Gurgaon.

                              

PICTURE: SOUMYADEB SINHA

Mohun Bagan lost today’s AFC Cup match 1-0 to Kuwait SC. Mohun Bagan put up a brilliant fight today but due to a mistake by defenders conceded a silly goal in 2nd half. Baichung and Ishfaq missed easy chances to score. Mohun Bagan will next play their AFC Cup match on April 21st whereas their next I league match is scheduled on April 12th against Dempo. The last round I league match of Mohun Bagan will be held in Ambedkar Stadium on April 16th against Mahindra United.

Mohun Bagan fought hard today but lost 1-0 to Kuwait SC in their AFC Cup match played in Howrah Stadium. After losing this match, it has now become really hard for them to reach the next round. They now have three matches remaining in this tournament out of which two are away matches. Mohun Bagan had a great first half and was attacking from the very 1st minute. Ishfaq made a good start and he was seen falling back and snatching nicely and also with his speedy run was bothering the Kuwaiti right back a lot. In 3rd minute, Baichung gave a sliding pass to Habibur but his center went straight to Kuwait goalkeeper. In 8th minute, James nicely took the ball from a Kuwait midfielder and gave a good pass to Barreto but he hesitated a bit and lost possession of the ball. Barreto played today’s match with fever. Karim said after match, "Barreto was not physically fit to play today’s match but he made a sacrifice for the team and agreed to play." In 13th minute, Mohun Bagan missed the easiest chance of the match. From Habibur center, Baichung brilliantly got past the central defender of Kuwait and goalkeeper was out of position. Baichung hurriedly lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper but ball went out over cross bar, he could have opted for dribbling past the keeper, a nice effort by Baichung went in vain. In 19th minute, F. Laheeb got the ball at edge of box but Odafe who had a superb match in defence nicely followed him, did not commit and made a brilliant tackle to avert danger. In the next minute, Dipak-Baichung-Ishfaq build up a nice move via left flank but Ishfaq’s center went over Dipak’s head to goalkeeper. In 23rd minute, Ishfaq again made a good run down left flank and crossed the ball to far corner of the box towards Baichung but goalkeeper came out and collected the ball nicely. Kuwait SC coach was seen shouting instructions "Don’t loose the ball, hold the ball." Since Mohun Bagan was dominating the match, the experienced coach wanted to slow down the game and not lose possession easily.

  

In 25th minute, Karim asked Ishfaq to change flanks with James Singh. When we asked coach after the match about this change, he said, "Actually the right back of Kuwait SC was matching well with Ishfaq and he was covering up Ishfaq well, so I brought James to this side as James can cross the ball from behind the player while in the right flank while Ishfaq can easily beat their left back by speed." In 32nd minute, a Kuwait player got slightly injured and fell to ground, referee said play-on and James Singh took the ball and took a shot towards goal that went over cross bar. Suddenly the Kuwait players charged Mohun Bagan players for carrying on the game and pushed Marcos and Baichung. Marcos retaliated and the match was stopped for 3 minutes. Marcos and F. Laheeb was shown yellow card. In 41st minute, Barreto and Ishfaq combined well down left flank and Barreto was fouled outside box, but Marcos direct free kick hit the human wall and went out. In 3rd minute of extra time, from Odafe long throw, Rakesh back headed the ball which Ishfaq took a flying side volley but ball went out, this was also a good chance wasted. 

Mohun Bagan continued their domination in 2nd half. In 5th minute, James took a shot from outside box that went straight to goalkeeper. In 9th minute, Habibur who had a good match released the ball from right flank which Baichung leaped to head the ball but was collected safely by the keeper. In 12th minute, from Marcos corner, Odafe headed the ball that was cleared from goalline. Kuwait SC then had a good spell of football for about 15 minutes in which they scored the goal. In 13th minute from counter attack, Dipak easily lost possession of the ball and F. Laheeb who was undoubtedly the best player for Kuwait SC made a down the middle run and took a shot from edge of the box that beat Sangram and missed by a whisker. In 14th minute of this half, Mohun Bagan made the first change of the match bringing on Mama in place of James Singh. In the next minute, Kuwait SC got a very good chance when from E. Saleh’s center, F. Laheeb headed the ball out from very close range. In the 18th minute, Ishfaq needlessly conceded a free kick in left side of the box. J. Alateeqi floated the ball inside box and Mohun Bagan defence perhaps made the only mistake of the match and hesitated to clear the ball and S. Almartah neatly back heeled it past stranded Sangram in goalline, Kuwait SC went 1-0 up. In 21st minute, Marcos took a high cross that Baichung chest trapped the ball, ball went to Ishfaq but his shot went wide. In 31st minute, Barreto got a loose ball from midfield and passed the ball to Ishfaq who was unmarked but again he lacked finish and took a very poor shot. In 34th minute, Masih gave a long pass to Ishfaq in left flank who gave a pass inside box that went to Dipak who saw his shot roll agonizingly wide of the far post. In 37th minute, Mohun Bagan made a double change bringing on Lalkamal and Branco in place of Ishfaq and Barreto. Last 5 minutes of the match, Mohun Bagan could not create much chance and Kuwait SC kept possession of the ball among themselves. Tulunga and Vashan also got yellow card. Tulunga will miss next AFC Cup match as this is his 2nd yellow card in AFC cup.

          

After match in press conference, Karim said, "We controlled the game and had good possession of the ball but we didn’t penetrate enough. Their defence was extremely strong. I am very disappointed with the way we conceded the goal. In 1st half we were steady and played well but in 2nd half we could have defended a little better, we made few silly mistakes and gifted the goal." When asked about Dempo’s performance in AFC Cup, he said, "Dempo I feel is a very good quality team and experienced also. What Mohun Bagan lack is players with good International experience. In my team, of the Indian players other than Baichung none of the players have good International experience that is required very much in AFC Cup. Since our players lack experience, in last 15 minutes, they were playing more square passes which was not the need of the hour. I was urging them to go for direct pass." On Mohun Bagan’s chance in AFC Cup, coach said, "Our chance is now very tough, we will have to win the next 3 matches, only positive thing is that 2 teams will qualify from each group, let’s see what happens. Actually Middle East teams are very tough compared to South East teams and our group is the toughest, you can see this from prediction in AFC website also."

 

Kuwait coach on his assessment of the match said, "1st half was hard but 2nd half we played better, that free kick changed the match. We played with new team, lot of new players, and this was the 1st big match for many of them." He praised performance of Mohun Bagan and said Baichung and Ishfaq played well. On his team’s chance in AFC cup, he said, "We have a good chance now. I think if we get 3 points more, we will qualify for next round. I don’t wait for other’s results, I will have to win and assure my place in knock out stage."

Mohun Bagan have their next practice session on Thursday at 8.30 a.m. Meanwhile, it has been decided in a meeting held in New Delhi that all final round matches of I league will be held on April 16th. Mohun Bagan will play Mahindra United in Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi. The Super Cup match is scheduled on April 26th.

TEAM: Sangram, Dipak, Odafe, Vashan, Habibur, Ishfaq (Lalkamal 82), Masih, Marcos, James Singh Sr. (Tulunga 59), Baichung, Barreto (Branco 82)

                

 PICTURE: Soumyadeb Sinha

For more pictures of today’s match, see https://www.mohunbaganclub.com/gallery.php, pictures taken by Soumyadeb Sinha