Mumbai FC defeat local champ Mohun Bagan 2-1 on debut

Barasat, West Bengal, Sep 27 (UNI) In a dazzling brand of soccer, debutant Mumbai FC inflicted a shock defeat on local champions Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the 2nd ONGC I-League here today.

The visitors were leading by two goals, struck in quick succession by Abel Hammound and Kuluthungan on 9th and 23rd minute, and the reducer for Bagan came through substitute PC Lalwmpuiya fourteen minutes from end.

Play began on jet speed on a rain-soaked muddy ground as both sides mounted attacks and counter attacks as referee A Arjunanan whistled for kick off at Vidyasagar Stadium in flood lights.

Minutes after Mumbai FC survived a scary attack from Jose Barreto, they almost found the net in a counter offensive as Felix right footer was fisted nicely by Mohun Bagan gloakeeper Shilton Paul but he injured himself when he went for a second save off a header from Subash Chakraborty.

On the eighth minute Abel Hammoud, a former Series A player in Italy, capitalising on a defensive lapse of Peter Odafa and Dipak Mondol, sped past a few yards to send a salvo defeating Paul and went in after hitting the upperpost. Odafa had attemted to pass Mondal but agile Abel won over to grab the ball and made 1-0 for Mumbai FC.

The combination of Felix Abuje, James Desirama and Abel was deadly and unpredictable as Bagan defence could not fathom their depth and accuracy in the first half.

After conceding an early goal, the double trouble came fifteen mintues later from Kuluthungan, who has pretty good knowlege of the slushy ground like this was today. As Abel was rushing with the ball from right flank, Kuluthungan anticipating a centre made no mistake when it came and headed home, that made local fans dumb for few minutes.

Bagan almost came to reduce the score in the 32nd minute but Kalyan Chowbey was agile enough to finger out Barreto shot.

As second session began Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa brought fresh legs to infuse new source of energy as ball was not rolling on swampy ground that made players go thirsty and exhausted.

Before the reducer from Puiya came in the 76th minute, Mumbai FC were unlucky not to get a spot kick from box as Dipak Mondol pushed down Abel on 63rd minute.

Puiya, who came in place of Mama (Shylo Malsawmtluanga in 60th minute) shot in just sixteen minutes after his taking ground defeating Kalyan Chowbey.

The visitors were a bit lucky at the fag end when a left footer from Bhutia hit side post and stopped rolling on muddy ground as Chowbey was nowhere.

The win earned Mumbai full three points before they take on East Bengal on September 30 in this same ground.

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