Mohun Bagan secured 3 more points as the Green and Maroon brigade get past Mumbai FC by 3-2. Outstanding goals by Tolgay(1) and Odafa(2) were almost overshadowed by silly mistakes from Biswajit Saha and Shilton Pal. One must feel pity for coach Karim that he is forced to continue with Saha and Shilton match after match!

Mohun Bagan thrashed SCG by 5-1 today here at Goa. Odafa scored three while Tolgay scored two goals.

Prior to kick-off, Karim suggested his team would not fear playing SCG and within minutes of the start it became apparent the visitors would not be playing a dull game in spite of Echezona Anyichie’s absence who was suspended for the tie.

Despite their conservative approach Bagan created a couple of early opportunities via Tolgay. In the 6th minut he was tripped off. Then in the 10th minute he got another opportunity as moved into SCG penalty area and was tackled by Pratesh Shirodkar – a penalty denied! In the 21st min he again created panic in SCG baox but was denied to convert another  opportunity.

Mean while the home team was having double coverage for odafa not allowing him to play.

Meanwhile  Bagan boys committed some fouls – Denson and Maithani were booked. But in the 37th min SCG was reduced  to 10 men when Dawson Fernandes, who already got a booking   in 33rd min handled the ball and the striker was given a marching order.

in 45th min Tolgay tried to score again bt his shot went off target.

  Bagan attacked SCG right from the kick off and in 47th min Denson kick was saved. In the 50th min Nabi’s cross for Tolgay  was handled in the penalty area by Mathew, and  Bagan got a penalty. Odafa made no mistake in converting the same(1-0).

In 54th min Maithani shot was saved. Soon Odafa got a booking for arguing with the referee. In 59th min Tolgay  was tackled and Bagan got  a free kick. In 64th min Snehasish replaced Maithani.In the following min Tolgay cross for Odafa was foiled.

In 73rd min an Odafa pass to  Tolgay was converted well (2-0) but the lead was reduced in 2 mins when Nirmal fouled Martins and Kalu converted the penalty (2-1)

In 80th min Tolgay increased the margin (3-1). Within 2 mins Odafa increased the margin(4-1)

In  90th min Odafa scored his third and 5th for Bagan

 

Mohun Bagan secured 3 points after winning against Dempo by 2-1. Bagan could have won this match by at least 6 goals but Odafa, Manish Maithani missed some easy chances while a Jacobs shot rebounded from the side bar. Dempo’s goal was from an offside position while the Assistant Referee himself was not on line. Dempo also got couple of chances to score but failed.

Mohun Bagan started the match with a positive note. Shilton was there under the bars with Aibor, Mehraj, Eche and Saha as the four defenders (Nirmal was not kept in the playing XI as he was not justifying his responsibilities in past few games) with Nabi, Maithani, Denson and Sabeeth in the midfield and Tolgay playing as withdrawal striker along with Odafa.

 

Dempo kicked off but soon Bagan started attacking from two flanks and in the 7th minute Sabeeth crossed the ball from left flank – the ball went past Tolgay and Nabi headed the ball into the goal.

for next 30 minutes Bagan wasted at least 4 opportunities to score – easiest was that of Maithani who dribbled past Dempo defense but shot the ball out of the open goal. Odafa missed two opportunities and twice Laxmikanth did well to stop him from scoring.

Dempo demanded for a penalty which was ignored by referee SreiKrishna who was very close to the ball and saw the ball hittin chest of Mehraj.

In the second half (47th min) Nabi showed his brilliance in passing a deadly ball through Dempo defense – Odafa got hold of the ball on the edge of the box and his power shot beat Laxmikant and Bagan was up 2-0.

2 mins later Dempo scored from an Anthony corss to Carvalho who headed the ball into the net in the far post. Anthony was clearly in offside position but the Assistant Referee himself was not in the right position to judge the same.

with Mehraj running out of breath, Karim made two quick changes introducing Nirmal and Jacobs together while Mehraj and tolgay were asked to take rest.

Eche did well along with Aibor who moved into the central defense and disallowed Dempo to score a second. Eche was limping and was finally replaced in the dying moments (though the referee booked him for being injured) by Fela.

Jacobs and Nabi could have increased the margin in the second half but were unlucky.