'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In a battle between fourth and fifth in the I-League, it was Mohun Bagan who secured a 3-0 win away at Shillong Lajong in a match crucial for both sides. With both teams on 17 points prior to kickoff, a win was important for them to keep pace with the top three.
And, Bagan did it with some clinical finishing. Lajong, on the other hand, were left to rue their missed opportunities. The scoreline is a little flattering for Bagan as the game was close for much of the contest before the Mariners scored twice late on to pull away.
With the win, Bagan move to third in the table, level with East Bengal on 20 points, but ahead on goal difference.
Here are the takeaways from the game:
#1 Bagan hit Lajong with the sucker punch
In the cold weather conditions on their home turf in Shillong, Lajong were the team making all of the running during the initial stages. Taking the attack to the visitors, the home side showcased their usual brand of possession-based football and incisive passing as they attempted to establish a lead in the game.
However, it was Bagan who took the lead, very much against the run of play. Lajong's former striker Dipanda Dicka returned to haunt them as he scored from a free header to give Bagan the lead in the 30th minute.
For all the chances they fashioned, Lajong really weren't able to score or test Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul enough. And, they didn't defend the corner well either which saw Dicka score with an easy header.
#2 A moment of concern
Just three minutes after the second half kicked off, play had to be stopped with two Lajong players going down in agony after a clash of heads.
As they rose in the air to head clear a ball crossed into their penalty area, Daniel Odafin and Juho Oh ended up clattering each other. Oh, who came in from behind, ended up putting his head straight into the back of Odafin's neck area.
It was a moment of concern in the match as officials and players from both sides stopped play so that the two could get the required medical attention. Odafin was the one who was down for longer and looked to be a bit shaken as he rose to his feet. He was checked for a concussion, but eventually, both the players were given the green light to get back in the game.
A huge relief for all.
#3 A welcome return for Bagan
If there's one thing that Mohun Bagan have had to deal with for much of this season, it's injuries to some of their key players. It derailed and eventually led to the departure of their star player in Sony Norde. Yuta Kinowaki, signed from Shillong Lajong in the summer, is another one who got sidelined early with an injury.
He returned today after missing a significant part of the season in what is sure to be a huge boost for Bagan. When Bagan let go of Katsumi Yusa, much of that decision was surely made thinking Kinowaki would fill that void. He looked a bit rusty today, expectedly for someone who has missed so much time, but Bagan will be hoping he stays fit through to the end of the season.
#4 Lajong miss some gilt-edged chances
The second half, like the first, saw the home team dominate possession and try to create scoring opportunities.
However, they failed to put away some very good ones that came their way. Samuel Lamuanpuia's deliveries weren't up to his usual standards today, but he did draw a good save from Shilton Paul from a very good free-kick at the end of the first half.
In the 42nd minute, Novin Gurung had a very good chance to level the score. Paul had come out of his area leaving the goal unguarded and Gurung had gotten on the end of a very good cross from Kenstar Kharshong. However, he failed to keep his effort down.
Abdoulaye Koffi had probably the two best chances outside of Samuel's free-kick. Just a minute into the second half, he had a wide open header which he failed to keep down. And, in the 84th, a golden chance presented itself, but Koffi, once again in plenty of space, could only direct his header wide of the goal.
A few minutes later, Bagan went up the other end and scored the decisive second.
#5 Faiaz with some telling contributions to bring the game home for Bagan
Shankarlal Chakraborty opted to make a substitution late in the first half when he pulled out Azharuddin Mallick and put Sk. Faiaz in his place.
Faiaz has enjoyed a very good campaign for the Mariners this season with his pace and direct running posing problems to opposition defences down Bagan's left flank.
And, he almost immediately doubled the lead; Faiaz made a smart run into the box and struck fiercely towards goal in the 44th minute only for his joy to be cut short by the referee's whistle as the flag had gone up for offside.
It was a sign of things to come.
Bagan didn't exactly have the best of games here, but they came away with the win because they took their chances. And it was Faiaz who helped Bagan seal the deal in the second half.
Just moments after Koffi had missed a wonderful chance to equalize for Lajong, Faiaz went on a mazy run down the left, before bursting into the box and finding striker Akram Moghrabi with a neat pass. The Lebanese forward put it away to make it 2-0 to Bagan in the 86th minute.
Faiaz picked off Lajong once again soon after, with another wonderful run, but this time scoring himself to push the scoreline to 3-0.
