Bagan snuffs out Goan enterprise

By S.R. Suryanarayan

CHENNAI, AUG. 24. Reigning champion Mohun Bagan dazzled. The premier Kolkata team, gave glimpses of its strength and adaptability, making light of a one goal reverse to post a convincing 3-1 win over Salgaocar Goa for a semifinal berth in the Federation Cup football tournament at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

Easily the most authoritative display in the current tournament, the Bagan players were never an overcautious lot on a ground which many teams perceived as not fit for skillful play.

Indeed, when a team has talent of the nature of Brazilian Ramires Barreto and Nigerian Abdul Lateef Seriki, there is little to worry. What these two players in particular drove home was the point that when the basics are right, ground conditions do not matter.

Their runs, control of the ball and the ability to make space for attack formed the ingredients of what was a treat for the moderate gathering.

The two accounted for the three goals, Seriki slotting in two. Barreto, for his all round show, was adjudged the `player of the match'.

This is not to undermine the supportive role of others in the Bagan line-up. In fact no praise will be too high for the clever work done by Rennedy Singh, whose tailor-made crosses often split the Salgaocar defence. Basudev Mondal was a source of inspiration in the midfield and then the inputs from James Singh, Debjit Ghosh and Amauri da Silva in the defence added to the overall supremacy Bagan exhibited.

For all this it was not as though Salgaocar caved in. The Goan club had its moments, however had Bruno Coutinho, the man known for his resourcefulness, played, its display could have been still sharper. Still Alvito D'Cunha was daring, Dharamjit more than a handful and Climax Lawrence showed his acumen in drawing the first blood.

Even though Bagan settled down early and haunted the Salgaocar defence, Kalyan Chaubey showed a safe pair of hands until once when off a Rennedy carpet drive, the ball popped out of his hands almost going over the goal-line.

Alvito laid the path for Salgaocar's 25th minute success in what was a sudden counter. Deep in the Bagan half, Alvito switched the ball to Climax, who took a few steps and gauging the target, shocked defender Da Silva in front and goal- keeper Bivash Ghosh with a soft placement to the right post. The sting brought Bagan bouncing back and the rest is history.

Deservedly, Barreto restored parity in five minutes and in what a way! Taming the ball with his right foot after Rennedy had fed him with a lob from far, the Brazilian sold a dummy to his marker (Roberto Fernandes) and slammed a left footer to bulge the netting.

Six minutes later, James had Debjit taking a running shot but onto the post. However, Seriki had run in too and slotted in the rebound.

It was surprise that Salgaocar failed to show any urgency after the setback, but the team cannot be blamed, for such was the cohesive touch of Bagan that passes went to a plan and to the player meant. So much so, Juju Siddi, who replaced Chaube after the latter sustained a bleeding injury close to half time, straightaway had to fight fire.

A dynamite from Seriki saw him fist the ball. The goal-hunger apparently ebbing, Salgaocar gained more freedom only to invite Seriki again, as he slammed in his second goal off a Rennedy cross to drive in the final nail five minutes from time.

Mahindra in semifinals

A penalty came to Mahindra United's rescue as it pipped Zee Churchill, 1-0, for the last semifinal slot.

The 61st minute match-winner came after Churchill was penalised as the ball touched its substitute Carlos Fernandes' arm while he was trying to tackle Mahindra's Venkatesh around the fringe of the box. From a distance it looked like an involuntary act but Referee Binod Kumar Singh thought otherwise. A couple of Churchill players made an attempt to argue but the decree had been handed out for Khalid Jamil to execute.

The Ghanaian Edward Ansah who was so sure during regular play looked a sitting duck as Khalid beat him to his left.

For a match that was lack-lustre almost all through it was just luck that helped Mahindra out and it seemed some justice for this strong Mumbai team, which had to face the burden of having quite a number of its players on the sick list. At least two of them had in fact come from the hospital bed, Raman Vijayan being one.

Once Mahindra took the lead, Churchill tried a last ditch fight back. In the process came another penalty box incident at the Churchill-end when Ratan Singh was felled by a rival player's clearance effort in a crowded defence. Again it was not a wonton act but nonetheless a `dangerous play' for which an indirect kick inside the box was given. Nothing fructified for Churchill.

By the end stages the Goan team mounted relentless pressure. Even Ansah began to stray to the middle to take free kicks, and once even stole to the rival end when a flag kick was being taken. Desperation did not yield any result though. In fact had Raman Vijayan, seeing Ansah out, been a lot more accurate in his long ranger Churchill would have conceded one more. Still Churchill's last gasp effort needed to be commended.

There is no match on Saturday. On Sunday in the first semifinals, Dempo SC and Sporting Club de Goa meet at 6 p.m.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : His legend lives on
Next     : Randhawa trims down Bhandari's lead