Mohun Bagan produced a scintillating display, sweeping Mahindra United off the pitch, reassuring them a place in the back to back final in the season. Should it be a repeat of IFA Shield final or a Trophy winning final against Churchill Brothers will be determined on Tuesday, September 22. Karim Bencharifa’s side were well on top after taking the lead through Chiddi Edeh’s superb strike in the first half. But Mahindra United were handed a lifeline soon after half-time when Bagan needlessly conceded a goal that Md. Rafi converted.

 It got worse for Mahindra as Chiddi headed a James Singh corner-kick into Mahindra net eight minutes later to give Mohun Bagan their third win in a row.

Both the teams played open football today, created lots of opportunities and both the goalkeepers saved some brilliant shots. For Mahindra, it was Stephen Dias who was taking all the loads, while Jems Singh was at his best today. Each and every Jems shot found Jose Barreto, excepting for twice – first when his corner found Chiddi and then a direct freekick was saved by Subhasish.

Bagan will now play Churchill Borthers – second time in the season. Last time they played, Bagan went down 0-2. Bagan supporters surely hope that the elite Durand Trophy will now arrive at the club tent this year.

 

Teams:

Mohun Bagan AC

1-Sangram Mukherjee [C], 13-Irungbam Surkumar Singh, 4-Deepak Kumar Mondal, 20-Rakesh Masih, 27-Nallappan Mohanraj, 16-James Lukram Singh (90+4′ 19-Mashangva Genius Zenith), 26-Micky Fernandes, 8-Subho Kumar, 25-Snehashis Chakraborty (82′ 7-Santha Kumar), 10-Jose Marcio Ramirez Barreto (90+4′ 17Kulothungan), 9-Chidi Edeh

Unused Substitutes:

31-Shilton Pal, 12-Branco Vincent Cardozo, 28-Manish Mathani, 34-Sangram Mandi

Mahindra United

1-Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, 12-Denzil Franco, 14-Dharmaraj Ravanan, 6-Lamine Tamba, 25-Debabrata Roy, 23-Steven Benedic Dias, 2-Nadumparambil Pappachan Pradeep [C] (61′ 10-Svetozmar Mijin), 7-Sushanth Mathew, 20-Paresh Shivalkar (66′ 4-Krishnan Nair Ajayan), 28-Sushil Kumar Singh (82′ 15- Khangembam Thoi Singh), 11-Madambillath Mohammed Rafi

Unused Substitutes:

22-Subhodeep Mukherjee, 8-Bhola Prasad, 9-Surajit Bose,  18-Nisthar Kazih Alaudeen

IFA Shied runners Mohun Bagan will face the Mahindra United at Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday evening in the 114th Durand Cup Semifinal. Mohun Bagan will be looking to build on their unconvincing victory against ONGC and JCT successively in group matches at Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday, and will be hoping that the side begins to click in the traditional Mohun Bagan fashion to chalk up their name in the Final to play against Churchill Brothers. Churchill defeated Dempo by 2-1 in the first semi final on Saturday evening.

Mahindra United on the other hand will be looking to take revenge of the IFA Shield where they drew with the mariners and get out of IFA Shield after displayed some good football in second half. Here in Durand Cup they have beaten another Kolkata outfit Kingfisher East Bengal and earlier drawn with new club in Indian Football Lyajon FC, Shillong in the group matches.

The talismanic striker of  Bagan Jose Ramirez Barreto was injured during the last group match against JCT and replced by Branco after his double strike on the early minutes of the match. It is the main concern for the Coach Kareem Bencherifa to make the Brazilian 100 % fit as early as possible. Another foreigner Chiddi has also shown his form by scoring goals in important moment. Mohun Bagan defence has shown great solidarity under veteran Dipak Mondal, who himself declared that he is in the form of his life. Late recruit right back Surkumar Singh has shown some goal scoring ability as well. However, it has been seen absence of Marcos make the mariners’ mid-field little weaker, whereas the others are not in their best of form. But against the team like Mahindra they have to perform at their best to help their team to reach to the final. Goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee also is in the good form and as the captain of the team, he is leading from the front.

So there will be a interesting game of football between the two giants of Kolkata and Mumbai on 20th September, Sunday evening at Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi. Match will be on and from 5.30pm (IST). The live update will be available on mohunbaganclub.com

Probable Line-Up for Mohun Bagan AC:

Sangram, Mohanraj, Masih, Deepak, Surkumar, Snehasish, Kulothungan, Mickey, James, Chiddi, Barreto  

 

 

 

Mohun Bagan defeated JCT 2 – 0 today at Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi in a group-B match and marched into the Semifinal of the 114th Durand Cup, where they will meet Mahindra United on Sunday 20th September.

It was enough a draw for Bagan to book the semi final berth, but the double strike of the talismanic Jose Ramirez Barreto brought sweet victory against JCT and a semifinal berth against Mahindra United. On the 3rd and 13th minute of the match Barreto scored for Bagan, first one from a James center by a header like bullet. James a missed a scoring opportunity on 38th minute by wasting a penalty. on 21st minute of the match Barreto was replaced by Branco due to injury, but the injury seems to be minor one.

It is not easy for any team to play against JCT at Ambedkar, but Bagan players seem to be cool customer as their defence played well, specially in 2nd half, when the Punjab team went all out to score. Goal Keeper Sangram Mukherjee also made some good saves to help his team reach the semi final without any hiccups. The overall game of the Mariners exuded quality and professionalism that is rarely visible in Indian football.

Booking Status:Surkumar Singh (19′), Santha Kumar (90’+2′ ) (Mohun Bagan); Baljit Singh Sahni (30′, JCT)

 

Teams:

Mohun Bagan AC
1-Sangram Mukherjee [C], 13-Irungbam Surkumar Singh, 4-Deepak Kumar Mondal, 20-Rakesh Masih, 27-Nallappan Mohanraj, 16-James Lukram Singh, 26-Micky Fernandes, 17-Kalia Perumal Kulothungan (69′ 8-Subho Kumar), 25-Snehashis Chakraborty (73′ 7-Santha Kumar), 10-Jose Marcio Ramirez Barreto (21′ 12-Branco Vincent Cardozo), 9-Chidi Edeh

Unused Substitutes
31-Shilton Pal, 19-Mashangva Genius Zenith, 32-Subhajit Majumdar 34-Sangram Mandi

JCT
1-Karanjit Singh [C], 2-Jaspal Singh, 24-Gurwinder Singh, 30-Sarbjeet Singh, 12-Daljit Singh; 7-Jagpreet Singh (78′ 13-Baldeep Singh Sr), 10-Penn Ikechukwu Orji, 27-Baldeep Singh Jr, 25-Sakatar Singh (74′ 14-Lalchhuanmawia), 9-Balwant Singh, 6-Baljit Singh Sahni (71′ 21-Balraj Singh)

Unused Substitutes
31-Prasanta Dora, 5-Narinder Singh, 19-Randeep Singh, 22-Pawan Kumar

Referee: P.K. Bose (Madhya Pradesh)