Mohun Bagan beat Air India 2-1 to reach semi finals of Federation Cup. Lalkamal and Marcos scored the goals for Mohun Bagan. In semi finals, Mohun Bagan will play against East Bengal on December 18th, the match will be played at 6:30 pm.

Mohun Bagan played like champions in 2nd half of the match and beat Air India 2-1 to reach semi finals of Federation Cup. After today’s match goal difference of Mohun Bagan and Vasco was same but Mohun Bagan qualified having scored more goals (4) than Vasco (2). There was a half an hour delay for the match to start as Air India reached the stadium just 15 minutes before start of match due to traffic congestion.

In 2nd minute itself Tulunga gave a pass to Barreto who centered from right side that was a little long and went to Ishfaq in left side from whose pass Mohanraj floated a cross into the box which Baichung headed but it went over cross bar. Thereafter it was Air India who more or less dominated the first half. Mohun Bagan mainly relied on long ball from midfield towards Baichung and Barreto in first half and those were easily cleared by Air India defence. Air India on the other hand with their speed caused problems for Bagan defence. Air India got many throw-ins from which Uttam Singh took long throws which Mariners found difficult to handle. From one such long throw, Sangram completely misjudged the ball and luckily for Mohun Bagan the ball went straight to their defender who cleared the ball for safety. In 26th minute, Air India went ahead. Michael Tayo gave the ball to Surojit Roy at half line and he ran with the ball past Mohanraj and gave it to Soccor Velho inside box who cut the ball in past Vashan and took a right footer than found back of the net, Sangram dived but could not save the goal. In 32nd minute, Samson took a direct free kick which came off post, a lucky save indeed for Mariners. Most of the Air India’s attacks were via Bagan’s left side. To repair damage, Kareem changed the position of Tulunga and Ishfaq and Mariners immediately got two chances. Baichung back headed a ball for Tulunga, who took a swinging right footed volley that went over bar post. In the next minute, from a Habibur cross, Baichung tried a bicycle kick but was timely intercepted by Air India defence.

In 2nd half, Kareem brought in Lalkamal in place of Tulunga and this move changed the complexion of the game and we saw a different Mohun Bagan in 2nd half and they started playing with short passes and played the ball mostly in ground and not long balls. In 51st minute, Lalkamal gave a pass to Baichung inside box who turned nicely and took a shot that Arup Debnath got his fingers to it and the ball hit post. Within 2 minutes, Mariners scored the equalizing goal. Marcos gave a pass to Lalkamal in front of penalty box and the latter took a shot from almost 24 yards out that beat Arup and bounced and went inside goal. Mohun Bagan were combining brilliantly at this moment. Barreto missed a easy chance when from a Lalkamal’s center, Barreto nicely chested down the ball but his left footed shot went away. In 60th minute, Napoleon Singh committed a foul on Barreto on top of the box. Marcos Perreira did bend it like Beckham like last match but this time it did not hit post but found back of the net. Marcos had a poor first half but in second half he came back strongly and controlled the midfield. Air India coach then went to 3-5-2 formation by bringing on Kailash and Subhash Singh. They launched a series of attacks causing danger time and again in the Bagan defence, but seasoned campaigner Dipak Mandal put up a fine show to thwart the raids. Air India got a spot kick when Vashan handled the ball in 74th minute. Ravinder scored but referee disallowed the goal and asked to take the penalty again as few Air India players had moved inside the box before the penalty was even taken. Ravinder took the spot kick again but this time Sangram made a brilliant diving save. Just before end of match, Mohun Bagan missed two chances to score. First time Baichung completely miscued a shot from an advantageous position inside box and second time Baichung took a shot from edge of the box which Arup saved and from return ball Barreto headed the ball that hit the post and went out, a lucky escape for Air India again. Though Barreto and Baichung missed few easy chances, but their dedication and the extra effort shown today is commendable and worth a special mention. Mohun Bagan will play against East Bengal in 2nd semi finals at 6.30 pm on December 18th while in the first semi on that same day, Churchill will meet Dempo at 3.15 pm.

TEAM: Sangram, Mohanraj, Dipak, Vashan, Habibur, Ishfaq (James Singh Jr. 90), Marcos, Masih, Tulunga (Lalkamal 46), Baichung (James Singh Jr. 92), Barreto.

Mohun Bagan lost to Vasco 1-0 in a Group D match of Federation Cup held today in Barasat Krirangan. Mohun Bagan missed many chances to score and Sangram made a bad mistake to concede the only goal of the match. Mohun Bagan now has 3 points from 2 matches and will play against Air India on December 16th in their last match of the group.

Mohun Bagan lost 1-0 to Vasco Sports Club and face a daunting task in their last match against Air India to qualify for Semi Finals of Federation Cup. In their last match against Air India, not only will they have to defeat Air India but also will have to hope that Vasco does not beat Oil India by more goals. Mohun Bagan’s goal average now stands at 2-2 while Vasco’s at 1-1, so if Vasco wins the match by 2 goals, then Mariners will also have to win the match by 2 goals and then they will reach semi finals having scored more goals. All these equations would not have been required had Mohun Bagan did not waste at least 3 sitters to score, on the other hand Sangram made a horrendous mistake and conceded one silly goal. Sangram is responsible for both the goals that Mohun Bagan has conceded in this year’s Fed cup. In the earlier match today, Air India drew 1-1 with Oil India and so if Mohun Bagan had won this match, they would have almost reached semi finals.

Mohun Bagan played attacking football in first half but as time progressed, flare disappeared from their game and especially in 2nd half after Kareem moved to 4-3-3 Vasco got more space in midfield and attacked more. Mohun Bagan started the game in 4-4-2 formation with Baichung and Lalampuia in forward and Barreto not in first team because of injury problem but during the end of the session, Kareem put Ishfaq in forward and moved rightly to 4-3-3 but today unfortunately the three midfielders could not play to their potential in 2nd half, Masih in particular was completely off color today. Kareem brought in Barreto, Kartick and Tulunga in 2nd half. Barreto and Kartick tried a lot but the luck was not in favor of Mariners. In defence, other than Deepak all looked very shaky.

In 1st half, Baichung scored off his left foot, a brilliant shot indeed but he was just offside. Ishfaq in one instance ran nicely down left flank and then he cut inside and took a shot from edge of box but narrowly missed target. In 2nd half, just after Barreto replaced Lalampuia, he gave a delightful through pass to Marcos who had just goalkeeper to beat, but he shot straight into goalkeeper, easiest chance of the match missed. Kartick put a cross from right flank to Barreto who completely miscued the shot and missed another golden chance to score. Just few minutes before final whistle, Kartick gave a pass to Baichung who positioned himself nicely in the box but from the right side he took a wayward shot.

The moment that Habibur would not forget in long time was when due to his silly mistake, a goal of Baichung was disallowed. Mohun Bagan got a direct free kick from outside box. Marcos bended it like Beckham and it hit the post with goalkeeper having no chance to move. From return ball, Baichung and Vasco goalkeeper leaped together but Baichung won the ball and his head beat goalkeeper and was entering goal and Habibur was standing in goalline at that time. Instead of moving away from goalline, he pushed the ball inside goal and was rightly judged offside by linesman. If Habibur had not touched the ball, he would not have been ruled offside and Mohun Bagan would have been 1-0 up.

The goal which Bagan conceded in 80th minute, Angelo lobbed from right side and Sangram completely missed the flight and ball went into far corner. Sangram did not even try to get the ball, he thought the ball was going over post, it was a case of terrible judgment.

Mohun Bagan and Vasco now has 3 points from 2 matches while Air India has 4 points from 2 matches. Oil India has 1 point from 2 matches.

TEAM:  Sangram, Habibur, Dipak, Vashan, Mohanraj, James Singh Sr. (Kartick 58), Rakesh Masih, Marcos Perreira, Ishfaq Ahmed (Lalkamal 76), Baichung Bhutia, Lalampuia (Jose Barreto 58).

YELLOW CARD: James Singh Sr.

Mohun Bagan beat Oil India 2-1 in their first match of Federation Cup. Barreto scored both goals for Mohun Bagan. Mohun Bagan will next play against Vasco on 14th at 5:30 pm.

Mohun Bagan played brilliant football in 2nd half to beat Oil India 2-1 in a Group D match held in Barasat Krirangan today. Mohun Bagan started the match in 4-4-2 formation with Baichung Barreto upfront and Vashan and Dipak Mandal in stopper in absence of Odafe and Manju and Mohanraj played as left back. In the 1st minute itself, Mariners combined well. Marcos lobbed the ball towards Mohanraj who gave a pass to Barreto who in turn gave the ball to Lalkamal in left flank but unfortunately Lalkamal’s center was well intercepted by Oil India defence and Mariners got a corner. In 4th minute, Durga Boro, who was impressive throughout the match, ran past Habibur and took a shot which was saved by Sangram. Mohun Bagan went ahead in 9th minute. Marcos took a direct free kick which goalkeeper failed to collect and Baichung pounced on the ball and gave a back pass to Lalkamal who sent a high cross that Barreto leaped high and headed the ball into goal. In 13th minute, a Baichung-Mohanraj combination resulted in a pass to Barreto inside box but he fumbled a little with ball and missed a chance. Being a debutant team, Oil India surprised all by their good performance, especially in 1st half. After conceding an early goal, they came back strongly and caused panic time and again in Bagan defence. In 16th minute, Jyotish took a shot after going past Habibur but Dipak timely cleared the ball for safety. In 27th minute, a Habibur center almost resulted in an own goal off Biplab’s foot. In 32nd minute, Mohanraj received yellow card for a dangerous tackle. Oil India equalized in 37th minute when Durga Boro capitalized on a misunderstanding between Habibur and Sangram and lobbed the ball inside goal. In 43rd minute, from a Lalkamal pass, Barreto’s shot was saved by onrushing keeper. In first half, Oil India got 6 corners and Mariners got 2 corners.

Coach Kareem made double substitution after lemon break bringing on Ishfaq and Lalampuia in place of Lalkamal and Tulunga respectively. Tulunga should have been replaced much earlier. Mohun Bagan went from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 with Lalampuia added as extra forward. This change of strategy worked wonders as Mariners played inspiring football in 2nd half. In 51st minute, from a Habibur long throw, Ishfaq took a shot and off deflection, Baichung got a loose ball in box but his shot was slightly out of target but Oil India defence failed to clear the ball properly and Marcos got the ball with only goalkeeper to beat but his shot went straight to goalkeeper. In 55th minute, Barreto scored the winning goal for Mohun Bagan. Baichung took a back volley from Marcos corner which hit hand of Jyotish in goalline and off rebound Barreto pushed the ball in goal but referee instead of playing advantage and allowing the goal gave penalty in favor of Mohun Bagan. However, Barreto, as cool as a cucumber, scored from the penalty. In 59th minute, from a Marcos corner, Baichung back headed the ball which Masih took a head but it went straight to goalkeeper. In 63rd minute, Mariners again combined well when Baichung passed the ball to Lalampuia in left flank, Lalam ran down the flank and from his center, Barreto chest passed the ball to Baichung but his shot was well intercepted by Oil India defence. In 71st minute, Baichung missed the easiest chance of the match when from a Ishfaq through pass he could not push the ball inside goal with only goalkeeper to beat. In 77th minute, Marcos lobbed the ball towards Lalam who again ran past Oil India defence and gave a nice pass to Barreto who positioned himself nicely and took a shot from outside box which narrowly missed target. In 81st minute, it was Lalam in action again when he gave a cross to Baichung but he fumbled with the ball and Oil India defence cleared the ball. Minutes before the end of match, Vashan got injured. It is not certain whether he will be able to play in the next match or not. Mohun Bagan thus won the match 2-1 and got 3 points. In another match of the group, Air India defeated Vasco 1-0.

It is now to be seen which strategy Kareem will prefer in the next match, 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. Kareem has to be given credit as it has been proved again that his match reading is good and he changes strategy nicely according to the requirement of the team. Mohun Bagan will next play against Vasco on 14th at 5.30 pm.

TEAM: Sangram, Habibur, Vashan, Dipak, Mohanraj, Lalkamal (Ishfaq 46), Masih, Marcos, Tulunga (Lalampuia 46), Baichung, Barreto

YELLOW CARD: Mohanraj