Kalyani: Mohun Bagan registered a textbook 1-0 victory over All India Foootball Federation’s (AIFF) developmental side Indian Arrows at the Kalyani Municipality Stadium on Thursday.
Daniel Cyrus scored the solitary goal of the match in the 19th minute.Kibu Vicuna stuck to his winning formula and named an unchanged line-up from Mohun Bagan’s thoroughly impressive win in Srinagar.
Arrows head coach ShanmugamVenkatesh made just the one change, opting to field Harpreet Singh in a four-man defence, while AmanChetri made way for him, leaving Manvir Singh as the sole striker up front.Buoyed by the 8,538-strong Green and Maroons faithful at the Kalyani Stadium, Mohun Bagan were firmly in the driving seat in the opening stages of the match.
The first goal-bound opportunity fell in the way of the hosts, when in the 12th minute, a cross-field delivery by Fran Morante found Papa Diawara completely unmarked, and despite having a free header on goal, couldn’t capitalise. Mohun Bagan, at this stage, were completely dictating the game, as the Arrows struggled for possession, finding themselves restricted to their own half.
The deadlock was broken in the 19th minute, when a Nongdamba Naorem shot ricocheted off Akash Mishra’s back, and with the ball still in the air, Daniel Cyrus unleashed a picturesque left-footed volley about 25 yards from goal, leaving LalbiakhluaJongte in the Arrows goal completely stranded as Vicuna’s men took the lead.
The Green and Maroon brigade kept turning on the style, this time through VP Suhair. In the 24th minute, he made inroads into the eighteen-yard box down the right through some smart footwork and after cutting in to his left, pulled the trigger with his weaker left foot, only to be denied by a great save from Jongte.The referee blew for full-time, signalling a fourth consecutive victory for Kibu Vicuna’s side. (Agencies)
