Bagan started with 0-1 loss to Churchill

Robert Lalthlamuana scored the all-important goal in the 31st minute. Mohun Bagan’s woes would have multiplied had not their goalkeeper, Sangram Mukherjee, produced a spectacular display, which included a penalty save.

The Mohun Bagan players looked tired after their I-League adventure and it was one of those days when their famed attacking duo, Bhaichung Bhutia and Jose Ramirez Barreto, had their focus elsewhere.

Churchill, on the other hand, held the upperhand thanks to Mbayo Iyomi, Kalu N. Ogba and D. Raju. The trio held the rival defence under siege, with the slow moving Douglas da Silva, playing as a hole in the home backline, being exposed time and again to the Churchill players’ fast runs and quick exchanges.

However, it was Peter Odafe who was primarily responsible for conceding the goal. The Nigerian unnecessarily dilly-dallied with the ball after it was cleared by a diving Sangram off the feet of Kalu, allowing Mbayo to snatch it from him and back-pass to Robert. The Churchill midfielder’s prompt right-footer from about 25 yards went in with the goalkeeper still to gain his ground.

It could have been 0-2 for Mohun Bagan five minutes before the breather after Sangram tripped Kalu. But the goalkeeper brilliantly saved Chandam Singh’s penalty.

In between, Barreto came close to scoring but Sangram’s opposite, Vinay Singh, denied the Brazilian. The rest was the story of Churchill’s domination and Sangram’s battle to save his team more blushes.

Teams

Churchill Brothers: Vinay Singh; Fabio Cortez, Govin Mojrangtnem, Gourmangi Singh, Zenith Genius Mashangva; Reisangmi Vashum (Thangjam Singh, 79), Chandam Singh, D. Raju, Robert Lalthlamuana; Mbayo Iyomi, Kalu N. Ogba.

Mohun Bagan: Sangram Mukherjee; N.S. Manju, Habibur Rahman Mondal (Lalkamal Bhowmick, 62), Peter Odafe, Rauf Khan; James Singh, Douglas da Silva, S. Ventakesh (P.C. Lalawmpuia, 45), Dharamjit Singh (Rahul Kumar, 58); Jose Ramirez Barreto, Bhaichung Bhutia.

Referee: A. Arjunan.