Siliguri: Mohun Bagan gets a huge boost in their mission to secure their second Hero I-League title after two “wonder goals” from Sony Norde and young Azharuddin Mullick led the Mariners to an emphatic 2-1 victory over Kingfisher East Bengal in the second leg of the Kolkata derby at Siliguri today.
Mohun Bagan made their intent clear from the very first minute of the game. Darryl Duffy made a superb run and triggered a powerful right footer which wend just wide of the far post.
Balwant Singh got a fine chance in the 4th minute when Gurwinder made a defensive mistake. But the Punjabi lad couldn’t generate much power behind his shot to trouble the East Bengal goalkeeper.
East Bengal got their only chance in the 6th minute of the first half when Wedson Anselme’s volley got a deflection and went just over the cross bar. In the 32nd minute, Balwant had a brilliant try at goal when he executed a fine side volley which went just off-target.
Mohun Bagan got the opening goal in the 36th minute when Haitian winger Sony Norde fired a gem of a free kick and Reheneah had no answer to that. But the best moment of the game in the 43rd minute when Mohun Bagan’s U22 Azharuddin Mullick reminded the brilliance of legendary Ronaldinho of the 2002 FIFA World Cup against England, as the Bagan youngster chipped the ball over the slightly ahead East Bengal custodian with some sheer brlliance. The goal would certainly go down as one of the all time great goals of this historic derby.
Mohin Bagan got another great chance before going into the half time break as Duffy’s terrific flick was well saved by Rehenesh.
East Bengal started the second half with some intent, when Rowlin Borges’ precision header in the 47th minute from a Wedson Anselme corner kick was excellently saved by Debjit Majumder.
East Bengal was in further trouble when Willis Plaza was given marching orders in the 66th minute with a direct Red card as the Trinidad and Tobago international punched on the face of Anas Edathodika in sheer frustration.
Australian Chris Payen tried his luck with a fine free kick in the 74th minute, but Debjit Majumder made a despairing save to prevent the goal.
The East Bengal coach brought in Jackichand Singh in the 85th minutein place of a subdued for a late surge, but unfortunately it was too late to save them from the jaws of defeat.
East Bengal reduced the margin in the 92nd minute when Rowlin Borges rattled the back of the net with a thumping finish to make it 2-1.
The win leads Bagan to the no.2 spot of the points table, just a point shy of league leaders Aizawl FC with a game in hand. More importantly, the Green and Maroon brigade are now the firm favourites to bring another Hero I-League title to city of joy as they now have the momentum in their favour to be the inexorable force.