Kalyani: Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan continued their surge towards the 13th Hero I-League title with a 1-0 win over second-placed Punjab FC at the Kalyani Municipality Stadium on Sunday.
Papa Babacar Diawara scored what turned out to be the match-winner in the 42nd minute.
Kibu Vicuna showed faith in his previous eleven, naming an unchanged line-up while Punjab Head Coach Yan Law named three changes. Centre-half Danilo returned to the line-up alongside Thoiba Singh, who was preferred over Makan Winkle Chothe. New signing Eze Kinsley also made his debut, starting against his former side.
The league leaders pressed hard from the get-go, not allowing Punjab a moment’s respite. Vicuna’s men converted plans into practice on the pitch, playing out from the back with short passes and recovering possession soon after losing it through rigorous pressing.
However, for the first half an hour, the match lacked clear cut opportunities with the closest effort being a Komron Tursunov shot from distance in the 13th minute. The Mariners held on for their third straight win and now have a nine-point lead at the top of the Hero I-League standings. Punjab FC remain on second but will drop places if Real Kashmir and Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) win their subsequent fixtures, with the Srinagar outfit travelling to Ludhiana next on 16th February.
On the other hand, defending champions Chennai City FC rise to fifth on the points table thanks to an injury-time winner from Swiss recruit Jan Muzangu, in their Hero I-League clash against hosts Churchill Brothers FC of Goa, at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday evening.The game which looked like it would finish goalless till the 84th minute, turned on its head in approximately the last 10 minutes, with all three goals coming in that period.
Katsumi Yusa gave the champions the lead against the run of play in the 85th minute, which was neutralised two minutes later by Mizo striker Mapuia’s third of the season. Muzangu then put it beyond the hosts, with his first goal of the Hero I-League with the game already well into additional time. (Agencies)
