KOLKATA: Pritam Kotal scored the only goal of the match as McDowell Mohun Bagan got past table toppers Pune FC with a 1-0 scoreline in a Round 5 encounter of the Hero I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
The first real chance of the match fell to the home side in the 13th minute after Jeje Lalpekhlua did ever so well to lay it off to an approaching Katsumi whose piledriver from about 30 yards was tipped over by an alert Amrinder Singh in goal.
Edgar Marcelino played in Darko Nikac in the 16th minute and the Montenegrin striker turned well but his shot was blocked by Kingshuk Debnath.
Katsumi did put the ball into the back of the net in the 18th minute after Sony Norde had flashed a ball into the box from the left, only to be disallowed for the Japanese having used his hands in the process..
It was a moment of brilliance from Edgar Marcelino on the half hour mark as he waltzed past at least three Green and Maroon players before Bello Rasaq got a block in as he was looking to pick out either of Nikac or Haokip who were lining up.
Merely a minute later, a lovely through ball from Denson Devadas had released Jeje on the right but the Indian International’s hopeful shot was blocked by Luciano Sobrosa.
Norde tried to curl one in at the far post from the left after Katsumi had released him but it went quite a bit wide of the post.
After Ganesh had fouled him dead centre, Norde followed it up with a delightful freekick that was inches wide of Amrinder’s left post.
Just before the half time whistle, Pune had a glorious chance on the counter as there were at least five yellow shirts on the half line against two retreating Green and Maroon defenders. However Marcelino managed to quash the chance as his poor flicked pass was cleared easily by Debnath.
Norde managed to test Amrinder with a weak shot just moments later after Jeje had opted to pass it onto his path.
In the 70th minute, Mohun Bagan did build up a great move, courtesy the Japanese as he expertly left the pass from Bikramjit, towards Jeje who was ready to pull the trigger. However Matthew Gonsalves put in a vital foot in to deny him the opportunity.
The Mariners finally had the elusive goal in the 77th minute with substitute, Balwant Singh playing a vital role. Finding Sony Norde free on the left, he found him out expertly. The Haitian swung a great ball into the box which was missed by the entire Red Lizards’ defense only for Pritam Kotal to pop up at the far post and head the ball in past a stranded Amrinder.
The Mariners had a chance in the dying minutes of the match, to put the match beyond doubt as Sony Norde was in acres of space when Katsumi found him. The Haitian managed to cut in and leave Sobrosa on the ground, but his ensuing shot let out a groan from the player as he flashed it over the bar, with the entire goal to aim at.
The win continues Mohun Bagan’s undefeated start to the season while Karim Bencherifa is greeted with defeat as he returns to his old hunting ground.
Hero of the Match – Bello Rasaq.
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