Mohun Bagan defeated JCT 2-0 today in an I league match held in Salt Lake Stadium. Mohun Bagan played one player short for more than 45 minutes when Odafe was sent off after he was shown yellow card for the second time in 40th minute. Barreto and Ishfaq scored the goals for Mohun Bagan. Ishfaq was adjudged Man of the Match.

This was Mohun Bagan’s third straight win and the most notable thing is that in two out of the three games, Mariners played with 10 man.

Mohun Bagan played inspiring football today and this was one of the best performance of the team in this season. Mohun Bagan started the match in a positive note and looked in an attacking frame of mind. In 6 minutes, Ishfaq took a shot from outside the box which just went wide. Then Barreto gave a measured pass to Baichung whose shot unfortunately went straight to goalkeeper. From a Marcos corner, Manju missed a golden opportunity to give Mohun Bagan a lead when he could not head the ball inside goal. Mohun Bagan went ahead in 15 minutes via Ishfaq goal. James Singh Sr. delivered a center from right which dropped inside JCT box and Ishfaq came running and with a spot jump connected the ball to perfection with his head beating onrushing JCT goalkeeper, Mohun Bagan thus took a 1-0 lead. In 30th minute, James Singh again centered the ball from right flank which went to Barreto inside box, Barreto nicely chest trapped the ball and when he was about to take a shot, he was pushed by JCT defender, Julius and referee did not hesitate to give penalty in favor of Mohun Bagan. Barreto scored from the penalty by placing the ball to the left of goalkeeper who had dived in that direction but could not stop the ball. Mohun Bagan went 2-0 up.

In 42nd minute, referee Dinesh Nair gave marching orders to Odafe when he received his second yellow card of the match. Karim then changed his strategy and pushed back Masih to stopper position along with Manju, Marcos was shifted to defensive medio and Barreto went back to support midfield and he was changed from forward to attacking medio and Baichung became the lone striker. Mohun Bagan played cautious football in 2nd half being one man down but from counter attack got quite a few chances. In 62nd minute, Barreto centered the ball from right wing and Baichung brilliantly headed the ball but it went just over the goal post. In 75th minute, Barreto made a solo effort when he ran with the ball from midfield and then from just outside the box took a right footer which JCT goalkeeper dived on his left to make a brilliant save. JCT just got one chance in this half but Sangram made a valiant save to prevent JCT from scoring. Ishfaq got Man of the Match award. Ishfaq really played well but Marcos or Barreto could have got the award too. Both Barreto and Marcos had a great match today and controlled the midfield. Marcos was superb in his dual role of attacking medio in 1st half and defensive blocker in 2nd half. Mohun Bagan has now 12 points from 8 matches and will next play against Vasco on 20th November which is an away match of Mohun Bagan.

After the match, Kareem said, "I am very happy with how my team fought with one man short. Yes I had to change my plan like the Dempo match. I always have an alternate plan and apply it according to the situation of the match. However, whatever strategy or plan that I make is in paper, it is the players who execute them in field, so credit really should be given to them for this brilliant performance. Our team spirit has been very good." When asked to comment about Baichung, Kareem said, "Baichung is trying a lot and he played quite well as lone striker. He had to play against two great stoppers Julius and Anwar." Kareem further added, "Actually I cannot pick up a particular player, everybody performed their role to perfection. It is a team effort that has resulted in this three consecutive win." On asked whether Mohun Bagan has now become a contender to win I league, he said, "After winning 3 matches, we have now moved up in the table but still we have to perform consistently and keep on winning."

Mohun Bagan will leave for Goa day after tomorrow to play against Vasco.

MOHUN BAGAN: Sangram, Dipak, Manju, Odafe, Habibur, Ishfaq, Masih, Marcos, James Singh Sr. (Tulunga 89), Baichung (Lalampuia 85), Barreto (Lalkamal 90).

PICTURE COURTESY:  TRIDIP SHEET, SOUMYADEB SINHA

 

 

Mohun Bagan will meet JCT on Sunday in their 8th round match. They have won the last two matches against Churchill and Dempo, the match against Dempo being an away match and Mariners played with 10 man for almost an hour in that match. Coach Kareem does not want his team to become complacent after two back-to-back wins.

 In today’s practice session, after fitness training, Kareem divided his players in two teams and a match was held. The first team comprised of Sangram, Habibur, Odafe, Vashan, Deepak, Masih, Ishfaq, Marcos, Barreto, Baichung, and Lalampuia.

Baichung scored 2 goals in the match. During the practice match, Kareem used Barreto as withdrawal forward keeping Baichung and Lalampuia in striking force.

However, he has not yet decided on the first team that will play against JCT. It is to be seen whether he uses Lalampuia in first team or keep him in reserve and whether he uses Manju or Vashan along with Odafe in stopper position.

 

     

 

  

 

 PICTURE COURTESY: SOUMYADEB SINHA

Mohun Bagan won against Churchill Brothers by 1-0. Lalam Puia scored the goal in the 13th minute off a brilliant pass from Marcos. Marcos Perreira of Mohun Bagan was declared Man of the match. Mariners now have 9 points from their 7 matches and will play their next match at Salt Lake against JCT on 16th Nov.

Mohun Bagan defeated Churchill Brothers 1-0 in Salt Lake Stadium today via Lalampuia goal in 13th minute. Mohun Bagan played a brilliant tactical game and credit should be given to Kareem for this win. Mohun Bagan defenders did not give Odafe Okolie any chance to take a shot at goal. Whenever he got possession of the ball, at least 2 Mohun Bagan players surrounded him and forced him to make errors. Manju, Deepak and Peter Odafe were rock solid in defence. Marcos and Rakesh played quite well in midfield. Coach Kareem said, "I wanted to cut the supply
line from midfield to Odafe Okolie and my players succeeded in doing that and so Churchill changed their game plan and in 2nd half they mainly relied on long ball towards our box and our defenders played well to deny Churchill any goal mouth opening."

                                        

Mohun Bagan started the match with a bang. Within 2 minutes, a long throw from Peter Odafe caused panic in Churchill box and defenders cleared the ball for safety. In 6 minutes, Felix ran down the right flank past Deepak and took a center which just went out. In 8th minute,
Ishfaq gave a good pass to Lalampuia who attempted a center towards Baichung but Churchill defenders managed to clear the ball. Within 2 minutes, Churchill got a direct free-kick but Odafe’s shot went above the bar post. Mohun Bagan scored the goal in 13th minute. Marcos
lobbed the ball from center circle towards Lalampuia who was standing in the edge of the Churchill box, the ball went straight over Gourmangi’s head towards him whose brilliant first touch carried the ball forward before he placed the ball nicely past Churchill goalkeeper into net giving Mohun Bagan the lead. A brilliant pass from Marcos and equally brilliant was the finish by Lalampuia. Within 5 minutes, Vashum got a chance for Churchill when a misunderstanding took place between Sangram and Habibur, and Manju made a brilliant tackle to save a certain goal. In the 27th minute, from a pass off Chitra, Odafe got the ball in open space inside Mohun Bagan box and as he was about to take a shot, Manju made a well timed tackle, thus averting the danger. In 31st minute, Mohun Bagan got a direct free kick outside Churchill box, Baichung took the shot but it went out. In the next minute, Odafe Okolie got the ball in good position in box but this time it was Peter Odafe’s turn to cover him nicely and prevented him from taking a shot. In 40th minute, Mohun Bagan missed an easy chance. From a Marcos corner, Baichung got the ball in a scoring position but he placed the ball which went over goal post, he could have done better. In 42nd minute, Odafe Okolie took a nice free kick which swerved and was going in goal, Sangram made a timely save and fisted the ball for corner. In 43rd minute, Felix took a center from right flank, Sangram missed flight and James cleared the ball for safety.

             

Just after lemon break, Peter Odafe miscleared a ball inside box and Odafe Okolie got a chance but could not take a shot. In 52nd  minute, Felix ran with ball inside Mohun Bagan box and Peter Odafe made a brilliant tackle for corner. Churchill coach then made two changes in quick succession bringing on Nicholas and Bimeesh. In 62nd minute, Chandam Singh got a loose ball in right side but he shot wide. From counter attack, Ishfaq gave a good through pass to Lalampuia who just could not reach, Churchill goalkeeper came out and made a timely save. In 67th minute, Odafe took a center from right side and Nicholas attempted a bicycle kick but could not connect the ball properly and it went out. In 70th minute, Gourmangi fouled Lalam quite badly and should have got yellow card but referee completely ignored the incident. Lalam then got the easiest chance of the match when Ishfaq gave a pass towards Lalampuia, Churchill defence failed to clear the ball and Lalampuia got the ball in
open and he shot straight at Arindam, he could have placed the ball on either side of the goalkeeper. In 75th minute, from a long clearance by Odafe, Baichung back headed the ball towards Lalampuia who got a lot of open space in front of him but could not utilize it and gave a pass to Masih who gave a miss pass towards Ishfaq. Churchill indeed attacked a lot in 2nd half and tried to score but Mohun Bagan defenders played brilliantly and did not give any opportunity to score. Marcos got Man of Match. Marcos played well but we think that Manju would have been the better choice for the award. Mohun Bagan now has 9 points from 7 matches.

After match, Kareem said, "I am happy with how my boys fought, full marks to them, every player had a great game. This is the third match in which I am having my full team and this is the reason team is playing well. After Kolkata league, the players were exhausted and few of my players were injured and so we faltered in few games initially in I league." When asked if Mohun Bagan is back in race for championship, Kareem said, "I am not thinking that way. I will plan game by game. Next match is a tough game against JCT and we have to continue with our
winning streak."

     

Deepak again had a brilliant match in left back position. He is slowly adapting himself nicely in this position. Peter Odafe made few mistakes in defence but overall had a good match and played well in 2nd half. Manju was flawless as stopper. He made 3 great tackles which he timed to perfection. Manju is much better player in stopper position than side back. In midfield, Marcos and Rakesh was very good. Marcos was adjudged Man of the Match. Coach Kareem said, "I am happy with both Marcos and Rakesh’s performance. Rakesh’s job was to tackle the ball timely in midfield and to cut supply line towards Odafa and he succeeded in doing that. When asked to comment about Marcos, coach said, "I am quite happy with his performance. In Kolkata league, my midfield was a bit shaky and Marcos has given stability to the midfield." Ishfaq tried a lot with his pace but his delivery is not up to mark. He should learn when to release the ball and pass it to man waiting in box. Baichung and Lalampuia continued to keep pressure on Churchill defence from time to time. Lalampuia’s goal was a good one though he missed another easy chance.

Mohun Bagan will next play against JCT on November 16, 2008.