Fifth time in a row! Five continuous derby victories! Mohun Bagan today swept away East Bengal yet another time in the Kolkata derby.
Bhaichung Bhutia emerged with a glorious brace to put East Bengal behind and earn three points for the team and widen the smiles on the face of the million mariners.
It was what one would say a pretty one-sided affair in the first half as Bagan midfield took control of the game with Douglas posing as the centre figure in blocking East Bengal moves and managed pick up a yellow card. Defence seemed much settled and with Barreto and Bhaichung creating panic in the opposition's box, it seemed Bagan had the upper hand. However in the 29th minute, a picture perfect cross from Barreto from the left found Bhaichung who working his way through two defenders found himself free on the right and let fly a pile driver which squeezed in between the 1st post and the despairing Subrata Paul.
Bagan ended the half with 1 goal lead.
With the beginning of the second half, Douglas was booked fr the second time and received the marching orders (two yellow cards), though one would feel it was a bit harsh for the tackle he executed on Mehraj.
With one man short, Bagan now started to feel the brunt of East Bengal attacks but the impotent East Bengal forward line, starring Mukansi, the supposedly South African World Cupper and Edmilson missing out due to injury, was not enough for Odafe, Manju and Mohunraj, as all of them played brilliant.
East Bengal has not scored a goal in the I league for the last 475 mins({approx} including today's match) showed the reason for their being stuck in the 9th position as on a number of occasions they got the open net opportunity but failed to capitalise.
Then suddenly on the 62nd minute, against the run of play, Barreto lobbed a ball upfront for Bhaichung, who even though lost control kept pursuing it and from a collision amongst Mehraj, Bhaichung and Subrata Paul, the ball ballooned up in the air and headed straight for the goal. Subrata running backwards somehow kept it out but only to hit Dharamjit and then hitting the post and then to Bhaichung who stabbed the ball in. A comedy of errors and certainly a moment to cheer for the Bagan fans.
A number of substitutions on both ends saw Dipankar and Dipendu introduced in the game for East Bengal and the two missed a couple of chances too, not that they got open nets but they failed to make anything positive out of their chances. Subhashish who was introduced in place of Lalkamal also played a positive role in curbing Alvito after the exclusion of Douglas.
Sangram today put up a much more reformed performance and saved two or three balls which were heading for the goal.
The match ended with Bagan reaching on 20 points after 12 matches and East Bengal stagnating in 8 points after their share of 12 matches. East Bengal in 9th position and Mohun Bagan retain their 4th position.
Team: Sangram, Habibur, Odafe, Manju, Mohanraj, James, Douglus, Lalkamal [Subhasish],Dharamjit, Barreto, Baichung(C)
^Carlos, Bagan coach jubiliant after 2nd goal!
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