Mohun Bagan Super Giant sent a strong message to their rivals with a resounding 6-0 victory over the Indian Air Force Football Team in their second group-stage game of the Durand Cup 2024. Played at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, the Mariners dominated from the outset, with Jason Cummings, Liston Colaco, and Sahal Abdul Samad leading the charge.
The match began with MBSG immediately putting the Indian Air Force under pressure. In the 3rd minute, Liston Colaco floated a well-weighted cross into the box, but Jason Cummings missed his attempt to connect with the ball. The chance wasn’t over yet, as the ball fell to Manvir Singh, who couldn’t get his shot on target. However, it was only a matter of moments before the Mariners capitalized on their dominance.
In the 4th minute, Jason Cummings opened the scoring for MBSG. A misplaced pass from the Indian Air Force defense was pounced upon, and Sahal Abdul Samad, ever the playmaker, played a perfectly timed through ball to Cummings. The Australian striker made no mistake, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to give MBSG an early lead.
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The 10th minute saw MBSG extend their lead to 2-0. Liston Colaco, who was a constant threat on the wing, delivered a dangerous ball into the box. The initial header was well-saved by the Indian Air Force goalkeeper, but the rebound fell kindly to Tom Aldred, who smashed it home to double the Mariners’ advantage.
Bagan continued to control the game, demonstrating their superiority with a series of well-orchestrated moves. In the 17th minute, a slick one-touch passing sequence almost resulted in a third goal, but Liston’s shot was deflected for a corner by a defender.
The 38th minute brought another goal for Mohun Bagan, this time from Liston Colaco. Sahal Abdul Samad once again proved his worth, threading a precise through ball to Liston, who met it first time and rifled it into the roof of the net. This goal highlighted the Mariners’ clinical finishing and put them firmly in control of the match with a 3-0 lead.
As the first half came to a close, Mohun Bagan’s attacking prowess was on full display. Suhail Ahmed was denied by the Indian Air Force goalkeeper deep into stoppage time, with the referee blowing the whistle at 3-0 in favor of the Mariners.
The second half began with Mohun Bagan picking up where they left off. The 47th minute saw Suhail Ahmed squander a golden opportunity, missing the target after a brilliant pass from Sahal put him through on goal. It was a rare miss in a game where the Mariners had been otherwise ruthlessly efficient.
In the 65th minute, substitute Anirudh Thapa made an immediate impact, scoring a spectacular goal to make it 4-0. After Liston’s shot was saved, the ball was kept in play and fell to Thapa, who struck it on the half-volley, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Just over ten minutes later, in the 76th minute, Jason Cummings added his second goal of the match and MBSG’s fifth. The goal was a product of smooth interplay between Sahal and Manvir, with the latter flicking the ball to Cummings, who calmly finished past the goalkeeper.
Mohun Bagan weren’t done yet, and in the 82nd minute, Sahal nearly turned from provider to scorer. He found himself in a promising position but could only watch as his shot brushed the upright and went out for a goal kick. It was a rare miss for the midfielder who had created six clear chances throughout the match.
In the 90+1st minute, new-signing Greg Stewart put the icing on the cake with the Mariners’ sixth goal. A neat one-two with Cummings allowed the Scottish midfielder to pass the ball into the net, capping off a night of exceptional football for the Mariners.
As the final whistle blew, Mohun Bagan celebrated a comprehensive 6-0 victory, a performance that will be remembered as one of their finest displays. From start to finish, Jose Molina’s boys were in complete control, with Sahal Abdul Samad pulling the strings in midfield, setting up four of the six goals. The Indian Air Force Football Team was unable to cope with the relentless pressure and precision of the Mariners, who march on in the Durand Cup with confidence and flair.
The emphatic victory propelled Mohun Bagan to the top of the Group A standings, edging out traditional rivals East Bengal. Both teams are level on six points, each with two wins, but Mohun Bagan’s superior goal difference secured them the top spot. The upcoming Derby clash on August 18 will be the decisive match, determining the final group positions and who advances to the quarterfinals.
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