Mohun Bagan down Mahindra

S Ayyappa Swamy

Mahindra United gifited three points to defending champions Mohun Bagan in a home match of the fifth National Football League at the Cooperage, in Bombay, on Monday.

After matching the Calcutta giants for every moment of the match, they lost their concentration momentarily and paid the price as they were beaten 1-0.

Mahaindra United's Habib Adenkunle, playing heroically alongside Christopher Ihegborow as the two stopper-backs, went out for three minutes with an injury. He was obviously feigning, as he returned after shamming medical treatement. But that's when the goal occurred -- in the 55th minute ---while he was limping on the touchline. Defender Sanjay Dayal leapt early to give Jose Barretto a clear look at the goal, and the Brazilian made no mistake.

Rajindra Prasad Singh, the hardworking Mohun Bagan medio, snatched the ball from Mahindra captain Aqueel Ansari, charged about 40 yards without being challenged and switched to R C Prakash on the left. The dimunitive striker essayed a beautiful centre and Barretto, very cleverly, moved back and away from Christopher, who had stuck to him like a shadow, towards Dayal, who could not time his jump correctly. Barretto's header went away from the outstretched hands of Virender Singh into the far corner.

Give the Calcutta teams an inch and they will snatch a foot. Mahindra United learnt this axiom the hard way as the defending champions stepped up the pace to consolidate their grip on the match. Chances came in torrents and had it not been for Virender's agility, Mahindra would have been debited with another three goals.

First he lunged to his left to parry away an Amar Ganguly right-footer and then in the next instance stuck his foot out on the goalline to block out Amauri's header. In between Debjit Ghosh's header went just over the bar.

If Mahindra coach Shabbir Ali made the wrong decision to begin with just-back-from-injury Tapon Ghosh as right wing-back and Raman Vijayan as striker from the start, it did not tell on the other players. For, they combined well in defence and midfield. Though the rhythm was missing, Mahindra made deep inroads into the Mohun Bagan defence. However, they could not translate this into goalmouth action.

One of the primary reasons being they were very elaborate with their build-ups. When a crack long-ranger would have tested Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Bhibhas Ghosh, the Mahindra United players would keep passing the ball amongst themsleves in the 25-yard area. There was just one shot by Abhay Kumar from 25 yards which ballooned over.

Captain Ansari played a superb game. He marshalled the midfield adroitly and his delicate touches had the Mohun Bagan players guessing all the time. Debjit Ghosh, playing in front of the defence for Mohun Bagan, could hardly play the spoiler's role.

Yet, barring a right-footer on the turn essayed by Raman Vijayan, Mahindra did not have any chances. Even after conceding the lead, they played the waiting game and continued doing so till the end.

After five rounds, Mohun Bagan are on 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw) and Mahindra are on five (1 win, 2 draws).

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