AFC Cup: Depleted Bagan trounce young blues 3-1

by Chittu Shetty May 18, 2017

Goals from Jeje, Kean lewis and Bikramjit ensured a second string Mariners side trudge past a young Blues side in the fifth round of AFC Group E encounters

In a dead rubber of a game, Mariners earned a morale boosting win over Blues with the visitors now needing a win against Maziya to qualify for the next round of the tournament.

Both sides entered the game making as many as nine changes keeping in mind the federation cup final against the same opponents in four days time. For Bagan, Eduardo Fereira and Balwant Singh were the only men that featured in the semi final win over East Bengal. Raynier Fernandes started in midfield while Sanjay Balmuchu was on the left side of defence. For Blues, Salam Ranjan Singh and CK Vineeth reprised their semi final roles as the Spaniard elected to start with an all Indian XI with Keegan Pereira leading the side.

In an end to end game, it was the home side that took the early lead courtesy Jeje’s smart run and finish to a Rayneir Fernandes’ chipped assist. At the other end Zaula’s deep cross in to the box just evaded Vineeth as blues failed to equalize. Soon, Len created a brilliant chance for himself but a poor touch allowed Bagan keeper Shilton Paul to gather the ball before any damage.

Mariners soon grew into the game controlling the tempo, with the lead in board; Sen replaced Balwant with young Azharuddin Mallick. Both sides entered into break with mariners leading the game with a solitary goal courtesy Jeje’s strike.

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Second half started with Blues equalising early in the 52^nd minute, when Len took the ball from middle running in through the Bagan defence before unleashing a rasping shot from outside the box that Shilton failed to judge as the ball ricocheted in to the net. At the other end, Jeje skied a golden chance off an Prabir cross with Goalkeeper Ralte off his line.

However Mohun Bagan’s soon made it 2-1 when Kean Lewis took Nishu Kumar for a spin at the edge of the box before taking a shot towards goal that took a heavy deflection off Gursimrat Gill as it looped over a off balance Ralte in to the net. Soon Bikramjit SIngh made it 3-1 in the 80^th minute when his shot from outside the box went past a diving Ralte. In the injury time a late drama ensued as a CK Vineeth freekick saw Shilton Paul deflect the ball onto his top post as the ball came out for Mohun Bagan defence to clear.

While Mohun Bagan are already eliminated with just two wins, and Maziya winning against Abahani, Bengaluru FC will now need a win at home to qualify for the next stage.

Mohan Bagan 3 (J. Lalpekhlua 9′, K. Lewis 74′, B. Singh 80′) – 1 Bengaluru FC (S. Doungel 52′)