'%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)
Churchill Brothers FC scripted a memorable 3-0 victory over mighty Mohun Bagan at their own den on Sunday evening. Willis Plaza scored a brace while Ceesay opened the scoring earlier. Mohun Bagan suffered their first defeat of the season and performed very poor in all the departments in front of a 22,000 strong crowd present at the Salt Lake Stadium
With two back-to-back wins, Churchill Brothers FC is now placed at the second spot in the league table with nine points while Bagan still has 8 points in their kitty. Let us have a look at the 3 reasons why Mohun Bagan lost to Churchill Brothers FC:
#3 Failed to perform as a unit
Mohun Bagan’s defence was a total mess in the first half with Dalraj Singh’s mistake making way for the first goal of the match putting the visitors ahead in the 18th minute. On the other hand, the green and maroon brigade had a couple of clear chances to get the equaliser but failed their strikers made a mockery of the opportunities.
The hosts can only blame themselves for the outcome of the match and rue for the missed chances. Sony Norde was the only live wire in the field and practically was the root cause of all the attacks in the match. The duo of Henry Kisseka and Dipanda Dicka were clueless in upfront as was his compatriots in the midfield.
It was a pretty balanced act in by the Kolkata giants in the first four games but stumbled in the fifth one. With a five-day gap in between, the ‘Mariners’ is all set to host league leaders Chennai City FC next weekend at the same venue. With no positives to take forward to the next game, Mohun Bagan will hope for a better display which will the last fixture before the high voltage ‘Kolkata Derby’ next month.
#2 Dalraj Singh - a day to forget
Stopper Dalraj Singh will be under the scanner after the disastrous defeat against Churchill Brothers FC. After a clinical display in the previous match against Real Kashmir FC and was given the burden to guard Bagan’s goal once goal but he let the coach down with numerous errors throughout the entire 90 minutes. It was a night to forget for the footballer who had a magical spell with Peerless SC in the 2018 Calcutta Football League.
Failing to clear the ball in the first attempt, he somehow managed to head is back only to see Ceesay lot in home past a hopeless Shilton Paul with the gloves. In the second half, it was again a massacre by the tall defender which led to a scrappy goal. Colliding with Willis Plaza, the ball brushed his body to pave its way into the net and double the lead for the visitors.
The third goal was a pretty well-organised strike from the away team with Israil Gurung’s cross sailing towards Willis Plaza who made no mistake to complete his brace. It was Dalraj who failed to mark the man much to the disappointment of the passionate supporters present at the Salt Lake stadium on a pleasant Sunday evening.
#1 Willis Plaza - answered his critics with style
Willis Plaza was overlooked by East Bengal midway in the last season but he never gave up. The footballer from the Caribbean islands survived in the Indian football circuit and managed to land up in a Churchill Brothers FC side which was on the brink of relegation.
The Goa-based side appeared in the I-League after much confusion but they are the only team to feature from the region. After a slow start, the side won its first match against Shillong Lajong FC by a 4-2 margin with Willis Plaza scoring a hat-trick. It was a comeback for him and an opportunity to re-establish himself as a footballer.
His exit from Kolkata in the last season was not memorable, but he will leave the city with his heads held high time. After scoring the second goal in the 51st minute, he sealed the deal for his team a few minutes later with a clinical header. It was the perfect answer to his critics. During the post-match conference, he mentioned that “If you believe in God, you will succeed.” Well done, Willis Plaza!
