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I-League: Salgaocar Come From Behind To Stun Mohun Bagan
The Kolkata giants stunned in Goa...
28-Jan-2010 5:56:00 PM
By Atishay Agarwal
Salgaocar 2-1 Mohun Bagan
I-League Results/Standings
Salgaocar stunned Mohun Bagan at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on Thursday, after coming back from behind to register a 2-1 win. Ryuji Sueoka had given the visitors the lead early in the first half, but two goals either side of half time from Keita and Ekene gave the Goans a win they desperately needed, and deserved completely on the day.
Tim Hankinson's side had Manjit Singh out, and Rocus Lamare and Cajetan Fernandes made up the central midfield pairing. Bagan were without Surkumar Singh, who was replaced by Zenith Genius, while NS Manju returned in central defence. Kulothungan kept his place, as did Ryuji.
The match started off with a high tempo, and Salgaocar had a great chance in just the fifth minute, Mandjou Keita went on a surging run down the left, and burst through inside the box before chipping the ball across goal. However, it was just a touch too much in front of Francis Fernandes, who could only tamely tap the ball into Shilton Paul's arms.
The 13th minute saw Keita do it all on his own again, as he received the ball on the right, glided past Biswajit Saha, and set himself up nicely just 6 yards from goal, but he poked his shot over the bar when it was easier to score.
And Salgaocar paid for the missed chance just a minute later, as Zenith Genius lived up to his name and curled in a pinpoint cross from the right, and Ryuji Sueoka, not the tallest man on the pitch, foxed the home defence and headed superbly past Kalyan Chaubey to give Bagan the lead.
It was a classic sucker punch, as the Goans had most of the play during the opening exchanges, and Bagan hadn't created anything before they scored. To add to the home team's woes, midfielder Avneet Shergill pulled up with a muscle strain near the half hour mark, and had to be substituted, with Ekene Ikenwa coming on in place.
But the men in green picked themselves up and grabbed a crucial equalizer just before half time, courtesy some more individual brilliance from Mandjou Keita. The striker chested a long ball down, took a touch, and drove the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards with a superb finish.
A minute later, Keita burst through again, laying the ball off for Ekene, but the substitute could only fire wide from a tight angle. Salgaocar ended the half on fire, as Ekene had another go from outside the box, but it flew well over.
The second half started on a high note for Salgaocar, as they scored two minutes into the half through Ekene Ikenwa. In what was the best move of the match, the home team took the lead via a blistering counter attack.
A long ball was played upfield to Francis Fernandes on the right, who sprinted through after a one two with Keita. He burst into the box and cut the ball back for Keita, who scuffed his effort, but Ekene was on hand to tap home from 2 yards.
Bagan went on a counter attack of their own six minutes later, as Ishfaq sprinted clear on the left, and chipped the ball back across goal, but Barreto's diving header was blocked heroically by Luciano Sabrosa. In the build up to the goal, center half Peter Costa twisted his ankle, and was replaced by Agnelo Colaco.
Bagan were pressing forward a lot more than in the first half as they looked to equalize, and Salgaocar were more than happy to play on the counter attack, one of which almost saw them increase their lead as Keita ran clear, and had a go from the edge of the area, but Shilton Paul parried away acrobatically.
Into the last 15 minutes, and Bagan weren't threatening much despite their possession, but one great chance fell to substitute Rakesh Masih, who had come on for the disappointing NS Manju. A corner kick into the box was flicked onto the far post, where Masih had a free header, but he could only send it over the bar.
Ryuji worked hard all day, and sneaked in behind the home defence with nine minutes remaining, but with the angle too tight, he tried to cut the ball back, but Salgaocar skipper Luciano Sabrosa cleared once again, saving his team.
The Japanese had another wonderful chance with four minutes remaining, as he jumped perfectly at Marcos Pereira's cross, but he couldn't keep his header on target.
And that was to be Bagan's last chance of the game, as Salgaocar defended well to hold on to their lead, and record only their second victory of the league season. It was a missed opportunity for the Kolkata side, who lose pace at the top thanks to the defeat.
Goalscorers:
Salgaocar - Mandjou Keita (44'), Ekene Ikenwa (47')
Mohun Bagan - Ryuji Sueoka (14')
I-League Results/Standings
Salgaocar stunned Mohun Bagan at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on Thursday, after coming back from behind to register a 2-1 win. Ryuji Sueoka had given the visitors the lead early in the first half, but two goals either side of half time from Keita and Ekene gave the Goans a win they desperately needed, and deserved completely on the day.
Tim Hankinson's side had Manjit Singh out, and Rocus Lamare and Cajetan Fernandes made up the central midfield pairing. Bagan were without Surkumar Singh, who was replaced by Zenith Genius, while NS Manju returned in central defence. Kulothungan kept his place, as did Ryuji.
The match started off with a high tempo, and Salgaocar had a great chance in just the fifth minute, Mandjou Keita went on a surging run down the left, and burst through inside the box before chipping the ball across goal. However, it was just a touch too much in front of Francis Fernandes, who could only tamely tap the ball into Shilton Paul's arms.
The 13th minute saw Keita do it all on his own again, as he received the ball on the right, glided past Biswajit Saha, and set himself up nicely just 6 yards from goal, but he poked his shot over the bar when it was easier to score.
And Salgaocar paid for the missed chance just a minute later, as Zenith Genius lived up to his name and curled in a pinpoint cross from the right, and Ryuji Sueoka, not the tallest man on the pitch, foxed the home defence and headed superbly past Kalyan Chaubey to give Bagan the lead.
It was a classic sucker punch, as the Goans had most of the play during the opening exchanges, and Bagan hadn't created anything before they scored. To add to the home team's woes, midfielder Avneet Shergill pulled up with a muscle strain near the half hour mark, and had to be substituted, with Ekene Ikenwa coming on in place.
But the men in green picked themselves up and grabbed a crucial equalizer just before half time, courtesy some more individual brilliance from Mandjou Keita. The striker chested a long ball down, took a touch, and drove the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards with a superb finish.
A minute later, Keita burst through again, laying the ball off for Ekene, but the substitute could only fire wide from a tight angle. Salgaocar ended the half on fire, as Ekene had another go from outside the box, but it flew well over.
The second half started on a high note for Salgaocar, as they scored two minutes into the half through Ekene Ikenwa. In what was the best move of the match, the home team took the lead via a blistering counter attack.
A long ball was played upfield to Francis Fernandes on the right, who sprinted through after a one two with Keita. He burst into the box and cut the ball back for Keita, who scuffed his effort, but Ekene was on hand to tap home from 2 yards.
Bagan went on a counter attack of their own six minutes later, as Ishfaq sprinted clear on the left, and chipped the ball back across goal, but Barreto's diving header was blocked heroically by Luciano Sabrosa. In the build up to the goal, center half Peter Costa twisted his ankle, and was replaced by Agnelo Colaco.
Bagan were pressing forward a lot more than in the first half as they looked to equalize, and Salgaocar were more than happy to play on the counter attack, one of which almost saw them increase their lead as Keita ran clear, and had a go from the edge of the area, but Shilton Paul parried away acrobatically.
Into the last 15 minutes, and Bagan weren't threatening much despite their possession, but one great chance fell to substitute Rakesh Masih, who had come on for the disappointing NS Manju. A corner kick into the box was flicked onto the far post, where Masih had a free header, but he could only send it over the bar.
Ryuji worked hard all day, and sneaked in behind the home defence with nine minutes remaining, but with the angle too tight, he tried to cut the ball back, but Salgaocar skipper Luciano Sabrosa cleared once again, saving his team.
The Japanese had another wonderful chance with four minutes remaining, as he jumped perfectly at Marcos Pereira's cross, but he couldn't keep his header on target.
And that was to be Bagan's last chance of the game, as Salgaocar defended well to hold on to their lead, and record only their second victory of the league season. It was a missed opportunity for the Kolkata side, who lose pace at the top thanks to the defeat.
Goalscorers:
Salgaocar - Mandjou Keita (44'), Ekene Ikenwa (47')
Mohun Bagan - Ryuji Sueoka (14')
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