Kolkata: Minerva Punjab stuns mighty Mohun Bagan by 2-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Wednesday. A match-winning performance from Chencho puts Minerva on top of the league by replacing East Bengal.
The visitors literally tormented the Mohun Bagan defence throughout the first half. Bhutanese sensation Chencho was simply toying with the Mohun Bagan back four. The youngster scored a brace within the first thirty minutes to give Minerva a 2-0 lead.
The first goal was by foxing Bagan’s Nigerian defender Kingsley and the second one was after getting a superb assist by Opoku, as he eased passed the onrushing Shibinraj.
Mohun Bagan got a lifeline in the 34th minute as they got a penalty in their favour. But Kromah lost a golden opportunity to reduce the margin as he took a feeble shot. Before the dying minutes of the first half, Kingshuk Debnath got an yellow card after he lost his cool and got involved with a fight with Opoku.
In the second half, Mohun Bagan tried a number of times to reduce the margin, but the team from Punjab stood firm on their defensive roles. Just before the last minute of the game Bagan defender Kingsley scored a stunning goal to make the scoreline 1-2. But the goal appeared to be a mere consolation and nothing else.