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Bharat FC succumbed to two second half goals as they went down 2-0 against table-toppers Mohun Bagan AC at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday evening. Bharat FC began the game well, creating a number of opportunities but were undone by two goals in the space of ten minutes in the second half to lose the second away game in their history.
A brace from Haitian winger, Sony Norde, gave Mohun Bagan AC all three points in a match where the pendulum swung either side’s way over the two halves. Bharat FC were in complete command in the first half, bossing the play from midfield, creating chances but were unable to get in front.
In the second half, Mohun Bagan AC struck through Norde and then ensured that they never let the game get out of hand. The result sees Bharat FC slip down to 10th spot in the Hero I-League with 11 points from 12 games. Mohun Bagan lead the standings with 28 points from 12 games.
The Lions began the match in strong fashion as Rajinder Kumar fashioned the first chance in the second minute. Rajinder picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, cut past Dhanachandra Singh and sent a low shot fizzing towards the Mohun Bagan goal. However, Debjit Majumdar, the home side’s goalkeeper managed to get his hands on the ball.
In the 12th minute, Bobby Hassell sent in a long free kick from the edge of his half into the Mohun Bagan box. Kris Bright timed his jump perfectly to beat Anwar Ali, the covering defender, and directed the ball towards goal. However, the looping header lacked power and Majumdar was able to make the save.
A couple of minutes later, Bright was at it again. Romuald Boco spread the ball wide to Bright who was prowling on the right edge of the Mohun Bagan box. The New Zealand international took one touch before unleashing a drive towards goal. The ball took a deflection off the covering Bello Rasaq, denying the Lions’ the opportunity to open the scoring.
In the 25th minute, Subash Singh smashed a shot towards goal from 30 yards out. The viciously swerving ball seemed to have beaten the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper but flew inches over the crossbar.
10 minutes later, Kris Bright had a great chance to open the scoring when Subash squared the ball to him. Bright pulled the trigger after taking a touch from the edge of the box but saw his effort whiz past the post.
The teams went into the break goalless and it was Mohun Bagan who came out of the breather, all guns blazing. Sony Norde, who had been kept quiet in the first half, opened the scoring in the 60th minute. A perfect ball from Sehnaj Singh found Norde on free on the left and the Haitian cut inside the Bharat FC box, dragging Mehrajuddin Wadoo with him before finishing powerfully past Arindam Bhattacharya.
Bharat FC had a massive chance to level matters in the 65th minute as Steven Dias’s delivery allowed Kris Bright a free header on the edge of the six-yard box. Bright managed to direct his powerful downward header towards goal but a last minute deflection off Bello Rasaq saw the ball fall kindly for Majumdar to collect.
Ten minutes later, Balwant Singh burst into the box and cut back the ball perfectly for Norde who calmly tapped the ball in to the back of the net from the middle of the six-yard box. The second goal seemed to have sealed the match as the Lions gamely tried to get back into the game but Mohun Bagan seemed to have shut shop as they packed their defense and successfully managed to close out the game.
