It was Kareem Bencharifa, the Mohun Bagan coach's birthday and on his 41st birthday he could not have had a better present. Bagan getting three points from the Mohd. Sporting match and with that extending a feat that will be inscribed in golden letters in the history of I League- 10 straight wins in the I League and by doing that regained the number one spot on the league table which was taken away from them for about 15 mins before by Sporting Clube de Goa, who ended their match against Churchill Brother with a win and going on to 31 points. Bagan on the otherhand, moved to 33 points from the same number of matches.
The match started with Bagan enjoying the better portion of posse
ssion and also were making quite a few movements down the left flank, engineered by Ishfaq. Dipak was seen to taken a lesson or two from the earlier matches and seemed quite keen enough to move up and down the flank to help Ishfaq.Ishfaq made a few blistering runs down the flank and left the defenders spell-bound and Naseem Akhtar diving for the balls.
However the moment came when from a Odafe throw-in, Barreto received the ball and calmly laid it on for James, who advancing took a left footer on his stride- the ball glanced off Gurpreet Singh's thigh went straight into the Mohd. Sporting goal. After the goal, Bagan tried to maintain the pressure, but was found lackingin vigour and in ideas as Mohd. Sporting slowly clawed into the match. Though there were a few streaks of brilliance here and there from Barreto and Bhaichung, it was not enough to get another goal. Bagan also missed a lot of opportunities to score and thus the half ended 1-0 in Bagan's favour!
The second half, belonged to Mohd. Sporting. In the entire season, Bagan has not played a more awful second half. Waves of Mohd. Sporting attacks kept crashing at the Bagan goal, but the Bagan goalie, Sangram Mukherjee proved once again why even at his age, he can make young promising keepers sit at bay! Acrobatic as he was, he was brave. If James has scored the winner, then Sangra Mukherjee has defended that solitary goal to make it the winner!
Manju today was outstanding and he took much pressure at the back handling Okoro and Eugene and also cover up for Dipak Mondal, who it seemed was not entirely fit.
With this win, Bagan earn 33 points and are at the top of the league table and will play arch rivals East Bengal on the 22nd and will look forward to extend not only their winning streak against East Bengal, but also to make it 11 continuous wins in the I League!
On Behalf of the Millions of Mariners who stay outside India or Kolkata and even on behalf of those who live in the City of Joy, Mohun-Bagan. Blogspot.com would like to Wish Kareem Bencharifa on his wonderful Birthday.
Photos: Soumyadeb Sinha
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