Mohun Bagan beat Punjab FC 3-0, go nearer to retaining ISL league defend

Mohun Bagan beat Punjab FC 3-0, go nearer to retaining ISL league defend

Kolkata: One other win for Mohun Bagan Tremendous Big, one other small step in the direction of the league defend of the Indian Tremendous League (ISL). However seen at the side of the place the remainder are, the 3-0 win by Liston Colaco’s aim between a Jamie Maclaren brace may show to be an enormous stride on option to being the primary to retain the defend. With 4 rounds to spare, Mohun Bagan have booked a play-off berth. They’ve performed 9 at dwelling this time period and gained all of them.

Jamie Maclaren (29) of Mohun Bagan Tremendous Big celebrates after scoring a aim towards Punjab FC within the Indian Tremendous League on the Salt Lake stadium on Wednesday. (AIFF)

After 20 matches, Mohun Bagan have 46 factors, 12 forward of Jamshedpur FC, who’ve two video games in hand. Dogged of their resistance until the midway mark, Punjab FC disintegrated by the point it was over, and Maclaren’s second aim after Ashish Pradhan misplaced the ball was proof.

Maclaren’s first broke the impasse and confirmed why the Australian is the best scorer within the historical past of A-league. Dippendu Biswas, so certain on the again, performed it in and Maclaren spun and buried a volley within the backside nook within the 56th. Colaco made it 2-0 within the 63rd earlier than Maclaren rounded off issues within the ninetieth for his seventh aim of the season. “We misplaced focus within the second half,” stated Punjab FC coach Panagiotis Dilmperis.

Vishal Kaith was offered a particular shirt for retaining 50 clear sheets. By the top of night, that quantity had gone as much as 52. He now has 12 clear sheets, probably the most in ISL11.

A mispass summed up Mohun Bagan’s frustration halfway by this midweek fixture. It was precisely what Punjab FC coach Dilmperis would have needed at Salt Lake stadium right here on Wednesday.

“We’ll attempt one thing completely different,” the Greek had stated within the pre-match media convention. He was referring to Mohun Bagan’s menace from set-piece actions. Punjab FC conceded solely two corner-kicks and their fouls had been in areas too removed from aim. Dilmperis additionally performed 5 on the again and denied Mohun Bagan’s bevy of attacking expertise oxygen.

But it surely additionally meant Punjab FC had been mild on transition. Pulga Vidal’s first contact of significance was a foul on Ashish Rai within the twentieth minute. Mohun Bagan had two photographs on course within the first half, by Stewart and Colaco, each saved by goalkeeper Ravi Kumar.

But, there was all the time the sense that Punjab FC had been treading a skinny line. True, Mohun Bagan’s makes an attempt to get the ball behind the defence didn’t work and a freak damage to Sahal Abdul Samad knocked them out of their stride. However as has been the story of this season, Mohun Bagan merely have an excessive amount of power in depth. Abhishek Suryavanshi changed Sahal however with Stewart pulling strings in midfield, Mohun Bagan managed to soak up the shock. It was Suryavanshi retaining the ball alive that led to the second aim.

And it was Biswas’s means to modify seamlessly between centre-back and proper again that allowed Jose Molina to convey on Ashique Kuruniyan as left again. Biswas made two very good challenges early within the second half throughout which Petros Giakoumakis hit the upright. And when Punjab FC had been 0-2 down, Biswas bought a block off Abhishek Singh. “Dippendu, Dippendu,” the roar circulated within the amphitheatre.

It could have examined Mohun Bagan’s character had Giakoumakis scored. As an alternative, the targets got here on the different finish.

From the off, Stewart was stepping into pockets of area. A reverse cross for Manvir Singh who discovered Ashish Rai was an early indication of how influential the Scot was going to get. Stewart then pressed Punjab FC into shedding possession and shot on aim however Kumar tipped it over. Within the 18th minute, Stewart discovered Maclaren whose flick to Colaco wanted Kumar to depart cost and clear. Stewart’s 18 touches within the closing third had been cut up equally between the halves and his passing accuracy improved from 72% earlier than half-time to 76% on the closing whistle.

Towards a crew arrange this fashion, Mohun Bagan knew they would wish persistence. Numerous it. However Maclaren and Stewart additionally triggered the press making it troublesome for Punjab to get out. Jason Cummings did that as a late second-half substitute. Mohun Bagan knew Punjab would break. And never for the primary time, they had been proper.

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