FATORDA: Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan overwhelmed Churchill Brothers FC Goa 3-0 at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Saturday, to dispel any doubts of a freeze, with the crucial business end of the 13th Hero I-League season approaching fast.
Former La Liga and Senegalese striker Papa Babacar Diawara started the blitz as early as the sixth minute in the reverse leg, with second-half strikes from VP Suhair and Tajik midfielder Komron Tursunov driving home the visitor’s dominance over the hosts.
Joseba Beitia it was with the free-kick outwide for Hero of the Match Fran Gonzalez, who headed squarely for Diawara coming in dutifully following play. The Senegalese tapped it home with the Churchill defense on its heals and it took a couple of deflections including a wrongfooted Sukhdev Patil, to hobble in.
Churchill fought back after the setback and they missed three clear chances in the space of five minutes with the Dawda Cessay-Willis Plaza combination at the heart of two of them.
After the changeover, the Mariners hurled another attack on the Red Machines with VO Suhair pulled off a stunner.
Sahil originated the move from his own half and found Diawar who was left unmarked. Diawara immediately played onto Suhair, who was chased by a defender from left whereas three closed in from behind.
The Malayalee attacker shrugged of his marker with pure strength and drove forward. Once he snuck in the 18-yard-box, he didn't delay unleashing a powerful right-footer to beat keepr Patil all ends up at the near post.
Seven minutes after Suhair’s strike, left-back Gurjinder found himself near Churchill’s right corner flag and floated in a cross. It took a meek touch from a defender and looped towards the centre of goal.