Category: Notice and Updates

MOHUN BAGAN BEATEN BY AL-KARAMAH

Mohun Bagan lost 1-0 to Al-Karamah after putting up a brave fight. Really this is indeed an impressive performance against a team which has played final of AFC Champions league few seasons back, the team also has 9 National team players. Unfortunately, dead ball specialist Marcos missed a penalty which proved quite costly for the team; however, this is part of the game and we know in the past, players like Maradona, Zico, Beckham had failed to convert from spot kick. Next practice session of Mohun Bagan, Saturday 8.30 am, Mohun Bagan ground.

The 1st half was dominated by the Mohun Bagan Team. Initial 10 minutes both teams tried to measure each other. In 20th minute, Tulunga failed to score with the goalkeeper at his mercy. Goalkeeper Balhous made another save to deny Baichung Bhutia in the 31st minute. In 42nd minute, Rakesh Masih’s long ranger parried off by a diving GK for a corner but Mohun Bagan was awarded a penalty after Bhutia was fouled by Cameroonian defender Richard Bohomo. However, Marcos failed to score as his shot is blocked by a diving GK who anticipates correctly. Just before half time, Rakesh Masih tried another long ranger which narrowly missed target. First half score read 0-0.
 
 
                          
 

The second half started with both teams on a positive note. However, against run of play, Mohammed Al Hamwi’s shot beats Sangram to put Al Karamah 1-0 up in 59th minute. Therefater, Al Karamah started to dominate proceedings. Mariners tries to equalise but good defending by the Syrian team prevented this. Sangram had a great day under the bar pulling off several brillinat saves in the second half. Mohanraj and Tulunga were shown yellow card during the match. The hosts continued to apply the pressure in the closing minutes with Mukherjee stopping efforts by Iyad Mando and Tamer Haj Mohamad while Al Hamwi had an effort cleared off the line by Lalramluaha. Mohanraj and Tulunga were shown yellow card during the match.

POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

Mohamad Kwid’s pre-match predictions that former AFC Champions League finalists Al Karama would not breeze through the AFC Cup were proven right on Tuesday as the Kuwait League champions edged past India’s Mohun Bagan by a solitary goal.

Mohamad Al Hamwi scored on the hour mark, but only after Mohun Bagan’s Brazilian midfielder Marcos Pereira missed a penalty late in the first half.

“Mohun Bagan were an organised side and they played well. I watched their recent matches and knew that they would be dangerous,” said Kwid, who guided Al Karama to the 2006 Champions League final.

“Mohun Bagan had a golden chance to take the lead through the spot kick and things would have been harder had they scored."

“We had a lot of chances to score in the second half but the Indian goalkeeper played well.”

Mohun Bagan’s Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa was pleased and refused to dwell on the missed penalty.

“Al Karama are a well known for their Asian experience,” he said. “We played against a good side and their fans played a big part."

“We had a chance to take the lead from a spot kick but this doesn’t mean we could have secured the win. I’m satisfied with the performance.”


Mohun Bagan: Sangram, Mohanraj, Manju, Odafe, Rahul (Dipak 82), Ishfaq (James Singh Sr. 83), Masih, Marcos (Branco 80), Tulunga, Lalramluah, Baichung.

COURTESY: Prince Rufus, Media officer of Mohun Bagan club in AFC Cup and www.the-afc.com

Cheer up boys

After the impressive wins in the iLeague , 10 matches in a row, and becoming a title contender, we thought we’ll end up with the i-League title. But to our surprise, we lost 0-3 against Kingfisher East Bengal, and then 1-3 against Churchill Brothers. 6 vital points gone – and we are now trailing into the third spot! I wonder want went wrong? Moreover – Sporting clube got 3 vital points after beating Dempo 2-1

Mohun Bagan took the lead against Churchill Brothers in the game. But then Sangram made an error in judgment and Odafe headed the ball in, the whole defence was standing and watching Odafe scoring the goal. This is not at all expected from such an experienced defence line up and goalkeeper. Sangram played so well up to that point and made many brilliant saves but somehow conceded this goal. We practise these situations a lot during the training sessions. Then why is Sangram making mistakes? His judgements, or the lack of it, is becoming costly – all of a sudden, and we conceded 6 goals in two matches – particularly when it is utmost important to earn points. We know that in 6 yards box, goalkeeper is the king and so he should have comfortably got hold of the ball. In 2nd half, when the 2nd goal was scored, Kalu made a solo run down the middle and Lalkamal and Manju failed to cover him and fell to ground and Kalu easily pushed the ball from Odafe’s pass and scored the goal with hardly any player marking him. For the 3rd goal, this time it was Lalramluah who faulted and Kalu took possession of the ball from him in midfield and Odafe’s shot was brilliantly saved by Sangram but Kalu followed the ball and pushed it into empty net, the whole defence was a mere spectator, nobody was marking Kalu.
 
We are really disappointed with performance of team in last two matches, especially marking of defence during setpiece movement. In East Bengal match, Nabi scored 2 goals and in both cases he hardly got any resistance from any Mohun Bagan player when he headed the ball in.
 
We saw in earlier matches, team was fighting and in many matches we scored in late stage of the match.  All the players were running for 90 minutes but yesterday’s 2nd half performance was perhaps the worst of this year.  All of a sudden we’re moving out of the title race. 
 
We are not sure if a solution to this problem is to let Shilton find his place in the starting side and keep Sangram on the bench or bring Mohanraj in left back position with Deepak and Odafe in stopper – that’s for the coach to decide.
 
We believe Mohun Bagan still has the potential to perform well in remaining matches and who knows, may be if we can win 5 matches in a trot, we may have a outside chance to win I league also. Cheer up boys! 

MOHUN BAGAN LOST TO CHURCHILL BY 3-1

Mohun Bagan lost to Churchill 3-1 today in an I league match played in Goa. Barreto scored the first goal for Mohun Bagan but conceded one goal just before half time. Half time score read 1-1, Churchill scored 2 more goals in 2nd half. Peter Odafe got yellow card today and will miss next match. Kalu scored 2 goals for Churchill and Odafe scored 1 goal. Kalu was adjudged Man of the Match.
TEAM: Sangram, Dipak, Odafe, Manju, Habibur, Ishfaq, Lalkamal (Lalramluah), Marcos, Tulunga, Barreto (Rakesh), Lalampuia (James Singh Sr.).