Rahul Giri in Kolkata
Mohun Bagan began their Durand Cup campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Mohammedan Sporting, despite being reduced to 10 men late in the first half.
The Mariners started brightly and came close in the 10th minute when Anirudh Thapa delivered a precise cross for Suhail Bhat. The young striker did well to lift the ball over a defender, but his effort struck the crossbar.
In the 23rd minute, Liston Colaco lit up the contest with a sensational free-kick from just outside the box. Having earned the foul himself, Colaco curled the ball into the top-right corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Thapa nearly doubled the lead before half-time after Colaco floated in a lofted ball. Thapa met it on the volley inside the box but it flew narrowly over the target.
However, drama unfolded just before the break. A moment of madness from Apuia saw the midfielder head-butt Tanga Ragui following a rough challenge, prompting the referee to show him a straight red card.
Mohammedan Sporting capitalised on the numerical advantage almost immediately after the restart. A powerful long-range effort from Lalthankima was parried away by Vishal Kaith, but Ashley Kohli reacted quickest to slot home the rebound and bring the game level.
The goal served as a wake-up call for Mohun Bagan. Once again, it was the lively Colaco who made the difference. Dribbling into the box, he cleverly played a backheel to an unmarked Suhail. Though the initial shot was saved, Suhail followed up to bury the rebound and restore Mohun Bagan’s lead.
Mohammedan Sporting pressed hard in the closing stages, trying to make the most of their numerical advantage. However, their lack of composure in the final third proved costly.
In the end, Colaco capped off Mohun Bagan’s day with a goal from the penalty spot after earning the penalty himself in added-on time. Defender Dinesh Meitei had fouled him inside the box. Colaco emerged the standout performer, while debutant Abhishek Singh impressed with a composed display.
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