Be it home or away, Mohun Bagan has once again demonstrated how a champion team plays. Despite the absence of two stalwarts in their backline—Alberto Rodriguez and captain Subhasish Bose—Jose Molina’s boys hardly felt the impact as they outclassed NorthEast United 2-0 before a raucous crowd in Guwahati.
Their two wingers, Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco, scored sensational goals to secure three points and maintain their position at the top of the table. Liston unleashed a stunning left-footed pile driver into the top left corner of the NorthEast goal, while Manvir cut inside and curled a beautiful shot into the bottom right corner, beating a fully stretched Gurmeet Singh in his trademark style.
Ashis Rai, the one who won the Man of the Match award, was instrumental in neutralising the threat posed by Alaaeddine Ajaraie. Ajaraie, who has been a menace against other teams, was kept silent by Molina’s well-organised defense.
Beyond the headlines, we must applaud and highlight the remarkable return of Ashique Kuruniyan into the playing XI after a long hiatus. An ACL injury during a national team game against Iraq in November last year derailed his entire season.
“It’s difficult when you have an injury, but it’s part of football. I took one year off. I was really sad. Without football, it was very difficult, but now I am happy to be back with the team and training,” Ashique emotionally shared during a press conference before flying to Guwahati to face NorthEast.
He also expressed gratitude to the Mohun Bagan management for their unwavering support during his recovery. “They helped me a lot—the management, coaching staff, and everyone. They gave me excellent options for rehab. They always texted me and asked about my recovery,” he said. Ashique added, “If they want, I will stay here until the end of my career.”
For More Football Related Content Click Here
For Ashique, this season has been challenging. Although he joined Mohun Bagan for the pre-season fresh from injury, he struggled to cope with the intensity and faced recurring setbacks. When he finally regained match fitness, he had to fight for his place in the starting XI. “We have a big squad full of great players. For me, I have to fight for my position. I have to give my best every day in training to earn a chance in the playing XI. By doing so, I also push other players in my position to perform better,” Ashique explained.
Subhasish’s suspension for the NorthEast game opened the door for Ashique, albeit in an unfamiliar role. The Keralite last played as a left-back nearly three years ago during his stint with Bengaluru FC. Adapting to this position again was no easy task, but against NorthEast, Ashique was flawless.
He successfully neutralised threats like Jithin MS in the first half and Ajaraie in the second, delivering an exceptional performance. In the pre-match press conference, Ashique had promised, “I am not sure whether I will play or not, but if I do, I will give everything I have to try to win for my team.” True to his word, Ashique delivered.
In the next game, Ashique might have to compromise his position again when captain Subhasish returns from suspension. However, with tonight’s display, coach Molina will surely feel relieved, knowing he now has another trump card ready to turn the match in his favor whenever needed.