I-League: Salgaocar down Mohun Bagan 2-1

Salgaocar played their heart out to overcome a one goal deficit and edge out Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the round 12 of the I-League in Margao on Thursday.

Bagan's Japan recruit Sueoka Ryuji put them ahead in the first half but the local favourites scored through Keita Mandjou and Ekene Ikenwa on either side of the lemon break for a morale-boosting win.

Salgaocar played with more determination in the first half as they moved the ball around well and created a couple of early chances but Avneet Singh Shergill and Keita Mandjou failed to score.

Bagan who failed to combine themselves in the first half created only one move which they scored.

Defender Zenith Mashangva from the right sent a long lob into the box for Sueoka Ryuji and the Japanese responded well with a glancing header to find the far corner of the net.

Salgaocar suffered a setback midway in the first half when Avneet got injured and was replaced by Ikenwa which gave more solidity in the attack.

Salgaocar did not lose hopes after the setback and put the rival defence under pressure and the efforts paid off in the 44th minute.

Milagres Gonsalves, from the right, sent a long lob into the box for Keita Mandjou who chested the ball, controlled it, beat defender N S Manju and send a low drive that beat keeper Sangram Mukherjee to find the back of the net.

Salgaocar then went into the lead one minute after the lemon break.

Francis Fernandes who raced with ball from the right flank, beat couple of rival defenders and cut into the box before laying a pass to Keita Mandjou who failed to connect the ball, the ball came to Ekene Ikenwa who tapped in. 

The goal was a wake up call for Bagan who regrouped after the goal and nearly equaliSed five minutes later but Jose Baretto's well-directed header was blocked by defender Luciano Sabrosa.

Bagan coach Karim Bencharifa made couple of changes to get the equaliser but even as Bagan pressed hard, the rival defenders held firmly.

Towards the end, Bagan came close in finding the net but Sueoka Ryuji's header lacked direction.

The win takes Salgaocar to 10 points from 11 matches, while Mohun Bagan remained on 20 points from 12 matches. 

Referee T Pradeep Kumar showed yellow card to Bagan's Ishfaq Ahmed and Salgaocar's Rocus Lamare.