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Mohun Bagan colts defeated fierce rivals East Bengal by the narrowest of margins in today’s AIFF U18 Hero I-League match at Barasat Stadium. Subha Ghosh scored the solitary goal of the match early in the first half to secure an important victory for the Green and Maroons.
With this win, Bagan leapfrogged East Bengal to the second position on the league table with 12 points from seven matches. The Red and Golds, on the other hand, dropped to the third place behind Bagan and Sports Authority of India (SAI). It is to be noted that the first leg had ended in a goalless draw.
Coming into this match, East Bengal, the home side, were the team in form, having won three of their last five matches. However, the away team managed to take an early lead through Ghosh, who scored in the 12th minute. It was the young forward’s third goal in just four league matches and by far, his most important goal this season.
Thereafter, Lalcchanhima and Co. tried their best but could not break down a resolute Bagan defence. In the 30th minute, forward Soumen Orao was brought in to replace midfielder H. K. Lalhruaitluanga as East Bengal desperately looked for an equaliser but to no avail.
The match turned out to be a very heated one as the two teams competed fiercely for the three points on offer. Subhankar Khamiri, the referee, had to be on his toes throughout the 90 minutes and produced as many as four yellow cards. East Bengal’s Mohammed Esha, Gurmukh Singh and Jhantu Prasad went into the book while Bagan’s Deep Saha was shown the yellow card midway through the first half.
Bagan are now on a two game winning streak after disappointing in four consecutive matches previously. As things are turning out, it looks like a three-horse race between SAI, Bagan and East Bengal to the title and only time will tell who will come out on top.
