Reds go down to Bagan in 7-goal affair

SHILLONG: A dominant Mohun Bagan rose to the top of the standings with a 4-3 win over Shillong Lajong FC in a Round 8 Hero I-League game at the JN Stadium here on Friday.
A first half brace by Balwant Singh (2′, 15′) was followed up by goals from Katsumi (74′) and Pierre Boya (82′) in the second half to lead the Sanjoy Sen-coached side to victory. Hosts Lajong tried their best to fight back but in vain. A brace by Cornell Glen (27′, 64′) and a late strike by Uilliams (89′) were not enough to save the day for the Reds.
With this win Mohun Bagan have 14 points from just six games and have announced themselves as serious contenders for the title this season.
Earlier, Bagan threatened to kill the game for the hosts within the first 15 minutes with Balwant Singh netting twice. Even before the crowd could settle in, Bagan tasted first blood. Just two minutes into the game, the Lajong defence was caught napping as a sprinting Balwant trickled the ball over the line to net the Mariners’ first goal.
13 minutes later, the visitors struck again. A long ball forward found Sony Norde whose shot at the goal was deflected. With none of the Lajong defenders around, Balwant went past Rehenesh for his brace.
Just when things looked to settle down in favour of the Mariners, Cornell Glen’s 27th minute header brought the Reds back into the game. Glen’s header of a Boithang Haokip free kick hit the ground before going into the nets. Lajong upped the ante from there on to dominate possession.
Crossing over, Len Doungel almost equalized for the Reds in the 53rd minute but was denied by a brilliant Debjit save. 10 minutes later, the hosts restored parity after Glen converted a spot kick to make it 2-2. The penalty was awarded to Lajong after Pritam Kotal handed the ball.
However, the Mariners were in no mood to share points and went into the lead yet again in the 74th minute when Katsumi converted one after a Dhanachandra cross from the left found him.
Barely eight minutes later, the visitors hit the final nail on the coffin for Lajong when Pierre Boya shot into the nets from a penalty awarded due to a foul inside the box on Sony Norde by Lajong skipper Aiborlang Khongjee.
The drama did not end there as Uiliams Souza gave the home fans hope by scoring as late as the 89th minute.
However, the day belonged to the Mariners who held on to the one-goal lead till the long whistle was blown as the game ended 4-3.