Mumbai, January 22: Mohun Bagan today came from behind to beat the local giants Mahindra United by 2-1 in the ONGC I League tie at the Cooperage ground here today.
With this win, Mohun Bagan jumped right into the mix of the title race going level on points with Mahindra, though the jeepmen still hold the top position on goal difference.
In an highly entertaining match, the hosts took the lead early on through Mohammed Rafi, but second half goals from Marcos Pereira and Ryuji sealed the deal for Karim Bencherifa’s side.
Mahindra United named an unchanged line-up from the last game with Krishnan Ajayan and Sushant manning the midfield. Mohun Bagan made one change with Tomba Singh starting in place of James Singh.
The first opportunity befell the visitors from a dead ball as Marcos Pereira’s free-kick went straight into the hands of Mahindra goalkeeper Subashish Choudhary. The Jeepmen were forced to make an early substitution as Paresh Shivalkar got a knock in the seventh minute which saw Thoi Singh make an appearance.
The home side took lead in the ninth minute from a brilliant move which saw Pradeep find Sushant on the line who laid it for Steven Dias whose cross was headed in byMohammed Rafi in the ninth minute.
The Red Devils seemed to be in the mood to produce a spectacle as Mohun Bagan didn’t look their usual self and were rusty. Six minutes later, a Steven Dias delivery from a free-kick saw Muritala Ali’s header kiss the crossbar on its way out.
Sushant Matthew and Krishnan Ajayan didn’t give an iota of space to their opposite numbers – Kulothungan and Marcos in the opening half hour.
Just after the half hour mark, Marcos Pereira found Ishfaq Ahmed inside the box who, in turn, crossed it for Barreto, whose tame shot was easily saved by Subashish Choudhary.
Just at the stroke of half-time, Barreto fluffed an opportunity to equalize from inside the box as he slammed the ball over the bar.
In the second session, the Mahindra United bench appealed for a penalty after Muritala Ali couldn’t convert from a one-on-one situation as he tumbled down with Shilton Paul.
The complexion of the game changed after the break as Mohun Bagan looked more lethal when marching forward. Marcos was involved more in the second half as he constantly joined Barreto and Suoeka in attack.
The equaliser came in the 58th minute when Barreto’s shot from inside the box saw an unconvincing save from Subashish and as the ball was edging towards the goalline, an onrushingMarcos guided it in.
Thereafter, it was all Bagan and Mahindra gave away the possession far too cheaply. Ajayan’s injury proved too costly for Mahindra as it nearly gave the opposition the free hand to roam around in the midfield.
Mohun Bagan took the lead which turned out to be the match winner when Ishfaq found Surkumar, who switched the play for Biswajit Saha on the left. The left back’s cross caught theMahindra defence napping as they were busy marking the Brazilian duo of Barreto and Marcos and allowed Ryuji Suoeka to put his head to good use in the 76th minute.
Mahindra had their chances as N P Pradeep sent a ball across the face of the Bagan goal but Muritala Ali couldn’t slot it in amongst the confusion in the opposition’s defence. A Steven Dias free-kick from the right saw D Ravanan’s header being pushed out for a corner by a Shilton Paul.
–Agencies