Internet Desk: Mohun Bagan beat Salgaocar 3-2 in their opening match of Fed Cup 2016 at Tilak Maidan, Goa without the services of their two main players in the team Sony Norde and Cornell Glen who were absent due to injury.
Bagan eased up an attack from the right with Subhash Singh crossing in from the right for a simple header for Jeje in the opening minute of the match.
The home side was desperate to get the all important equaliser and against the run of play Salgaocar equalised in the 26th minute. It was Saran Singh who gave a diagonal pass to Scott from the left side and the Salgaocar number 10 obliged to make space for himself before smashing it past Majumder’s left from about 24 yards out.
Few minutes later, in the 31st minute Duffy showed some great skill on the left to put in a cross that Mbarga rose highest to head in and gave Salgaocar the lead for the first time in the match.
At half time, the scoreline remained 2-1 in favour of the home side.
The first chance in the second period fell to the away side. Prabir Das stooped low to steer his header just wide of the target from Yusa Katsumi’s cross in the 58th minute. In the 69th minute, a move initiated by Lenny Rodrigues saw Prabir square the ball to Jeje but the striker’s effort on the turn was saved by Karanjit Singh.
Abhishek Das was brought on in place of Subhash Singh in the 77th minute and scored within seconds. Yusa’s cross from the right flank saw the substitute apply the finishing touch to draw his side level at 2-2.
Bagan then went ahead in the 85th minute as Jeje scored his second of the game. He brought down Sobrosa’s pass on his chest before fending off the challenge from Augustin and beating Karanjit with a shot on the turn to make it 2-3 to the visitors.
Mohun Bagan could have got a goal more if Katsumi’s shot was not disallowed by the referee due to offisde.
Salgaocar were awarded a free-kick deep into stappage time and while Duffy’s effort penetrated the wall, Majumder was alert enough to keep it out, protecting Bagan’s slender lead.
The match ended in a 2-3 away win for the Mariners who also boast three away goals ahead of the second leg.