Kolkata: Last year’s I-League runners-up Mohun Bagan began their CFL campaign on a high after beating Southern Samity 3-0 in their home ground on Monday.
New signings in the form of Ansumana Kromah, Shilton D’Silva scored one goal each, while forward Azharuddin Mallick also put his name in the scoresheet to notch up a comfortable win for the Mariners.
The Kolkata giants were expected to win the match but they didn’t have it easy against their opponents. Southern Samity made the Bagan players toil hard, giving little space to them in the first-half.
But after a long resistance, Liberian midfielder Kromah put Bagan ahead in the 52nd minute from a rebound after Kingsley Obumneme had headed a corner straight at the goalkeeper.
The goal opened the floodgates, as the Green and Maroon brigade continued the attacks from the wings, which saw another goal in the 70th minute as forward Azharuddin Mallick got his name on the scoresheet, putting one past the Southern Samity goalie.
The second goal dashed Samity’s hopes of a comeback, as Bagan kept on attacking, leading to some desperate defending in the Southern Samity back line led by Dalraj Singh.
A third goal by substitute and debutant Shilton D’Silva in the 84th minute hammered the final nail in the coffin. Arijit Bagui sent a cross into the box, which the Southern defenders failed to clear and the ball dropped right in front of D’Silva who took a cheeky turn before shooting it past the Southern Samity goalkeeper.
Samity, who had a toothless attack throughout the game, had an opportunity to grab a consolation goal, when they were awarded a penalty two minutes into extra time. But, Abul Bakkar could not convert it, sailing his shot over the bar and thus added more embarrassment to the scoreline.
It was a third straight win for the former I-League champions and coach Shankarlal Chakraborty will be a happy man with the win at the end after a goalless first half.
Bagan next take on Railways FC in the CFL on the 18th of August and will look to continue their winning momentum.
Meanwhile in the other match of the CFL, Tollygunge Agragami faced Railways FC. Tollygunge won the match 1-0, courtesy a goal by former Churchill Brothers striker Anthony Wolfe.