Kolkata: City giant Mohun Bagan today showed that if their arch-rival East Bengal can score five goals, they can also replicate that score on the very next day as they beat Goan outfit Churchill Brothers 5-0 at the Barasat Stadium today.
Bagan’s star forward Ansumana Kromah broke the deadlock on the 23rd minute of the game. Churchill goal-keeper failed to stop his powerful shot. Dipanda Dicka scored his first goal of the I-League thanks to a brilliant pass from Green and Maroon skipper Sony Norde. Bagan faced a huge blow in just five minutes of the start of play as their star midfielder Yuta Kinowaki suffered a shoulder injury. As the injury looked very serious, the officials immediately sent him to the hospital in an ambulance. Sanjoy Sen brought in Shilton d’Silva in place of Yuta. The score remained 2-0 at the end of the first-half.
The hosts didn’t take much time to score their third in the second half as Dicka scored his second goal of the game in 46th minute through a brilliant cross from Sk. Faiaz. The Green and Marron Brigade attacked more and more after the third goal which went in their favour too as Faiaz scored his first goal of the I-League after receiving a pass from Kromah. In the 65th minute of the game Rana Gharami came in place of Kromah as a substitute. The Bagan fans were looked a bit concerned as Bagan captain Sony Norde suffered an injury on his left knee, but later after some treatment he again came back in the field. Bagan skipper showed why he is the most destructive footballer in the I-League as he scored the fifth goal for his side by outplaying three Churchill Defenders. With this win the Green & Maroon Brigade has reached the top spot of the I-League with 7 points in 3 matches.