Kolkata: Mohun Bagan came back from behind to win their third match of the Calcutta Football League against Patha Chakra. The fans were in a shock when Bagan having kept clean sheets in the first two matches of the league, conceded an early goal.
However, the 29-time CFL winners came back in emphatic fashion to win the match 5-2, with four goals from striker Kamo and one from Kromah.
The match began with Patha Chakra on the front foot as they looked more comfortable with the ball and even took an unexpected lead when Nadong Bhutia headed one in, from a corner in the 15th minute of the match.
The goal acted as a wake up call for the mariners as the Green and Maroon brigade soon started to attack in numbers keeping Chakra goalkeeper Ranjit constantly busy, forcing him to make a few saves. The ball playing and movement of both Kamo and Kromah was treat to watch, as the two overseas signings combined well in the attacking third to keep the opposition defence on it’s toes.
It was their combination ultimately that bought back Bagan into the match. Kromah put a well knit pass to Kamo, who made no mistake with his shot, putting the ball inside the net, much to the relief of the Bagan fans.
It was all Mohun Bagan after that, as they with their clever play and movement off the ball slowly brushed Chakra out of the game.
Some ridiculous defending from the Patha Chakra defenders saw Bagan take the lead in the 43rd minute from a corner. Left unmarked in the box, Kamo took a brilliant turn before firing a ferocious shot into the goal, to end the first 45 minutes with a 2-1 scoreline.
The second half began in similar fashion with the Kamo-Kromah combination central to all Bagan attacks. Ansumana Kromah soon had his name in the scoring sheet, firing one in the 60th minute from a Chesterpaul pass, through a beautiful half-volley. Ranjit had no answer to the shot as the Patha Chakra defenders failed to track the run of Kromah once again.
Minutes later Kamo Stephane Bayi scored his first hat-trick for the club, and also Bagan’s first hat-trick in the competition. He scored in the 63rd minute of the match to make it 4-1 and put Patha Chakra out of the game.
However, the game seemed far from over. Patha were given a chance to make a comeback in the match, when the referee awarded them a penalty after Arijit Bagui had fouled Snehasish in the box. But, it was not to be, as Joel Sunday put his shot over the bar.
Shilton who had made some fine saves in the match, had to be replaced by Shibinraj after picking up an injury.
The match had more drama, as Kamo soon made it 5-1 scoring his fourth goal of the match after curling one into the top right corner of the goal. It was also the first instance this season when a player had scored four or more goals in a match.
But the joy didn’t last long, as Joel Sunday soon put one inside the net in the fourth minute of the extra time to get a consolation goal for Chakra. The goal meant that Bagan was now at the second position in the league table.
Much was expected of Patha Chakra, who had been unbeaten in the league, having beaten Mohammedan Sporting 4-2 in their opening match of the season before putting up a goalless draw against Sothern Samity. However, they failed to contain the Kamo-Kromah combination as they ran riot in the attacking third to end the match 5-2, with Bagan coming out victorious in what was an absolute goal fest.
The coming into form of Kamo Bayi and his wonderful link up with Ansumana Kromah, will definitely excite the Bagan fans as coach Shankarlal Chakraborty looks to give the Mariners the trophy that has eluded them for the last seven years.