By Ajay Majumder
KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan got back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-1 victory over United Sports Club on Friday in the CFL Premier Division – A.
Mohun Bagan drew the first blood through Daniel Bidemi (19th), only for Budhiram Tudu (23rd) to restore the parity for United SC. However, Darryl Duffy (36th) and Bidemi (57th) scored a goal each in the either halves to ensure full three points for their side at Mohun Bagan Ground.
Going into the game Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakraborty made only change to the team from the previous match as Prabir Das was unavalaible for suspenstion which saw Tapan Maity taking his place. While his counterpart Partha Sen named a unchanged side from the previous match against Bhawanipore FC.
Mohun Bagan, who started with Duffy and Bidemi upfront, began the game in attacking mode and created some half chances in the initial quarter of the game but finishing in the final third denied the Mariners an early lead.
The pressure paid off as Mohun Bagan finally broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Bidemi capitalised on a defensive error to beat United SC custodian Sangram Mukhejee off a Darryl Duffy pass.
United SC retaliated almost immediately through Budhiram who slotted the equalizer against the run of play later from Suhair VP’s pass in the 23rd minute.
Thereafter, Mohun Bagan gradually gained control and regain the one goal advantage in the 35th minute when Duffy headed home from Tonmoy Ghosh’s left sided cross to give his team a 2-1 adavantage at half-time.
After the change of ends, Mohun Bagan put up an aggressive performance and Bidemi nearly finding the net in the 47th minute. But the Nigerian failed to keep his effort on target off a Tapan Maity corner.
However, Mohun Bagan did not had to wait long for the third as Bidemi coverted from Pankaj Moula’s pass to give his team a two goal cushion in the 56th minute.
Midway through the half United SC went agonisingly close through Bello Rasaq but the defender was denied by the woodwork.
As the game progressed, Mohun Bagan were all over the United SC citadel with a series of raids but they failed to get the ball in to the back of the net.
United SC, meanwhile, tried to push up looking for a goal in the later stages of the game, but Mohun Bagan held on for a well-deserved 3-1 win.
Following this victory Mohun Bagan move up to second place with 16 points from six matches while United SC remain on seventh with six points from seven matches.
Photo By Ujjal Sarkhel
