Spirited Bagan dazzle in NFL phase II

Kolkata, Mar 16 (UNI) A rejuvenated Mohan Bagan outclassed Fransa Pax 2-0 to begin the second phase of the National Football League (NFL) on a high.

A transformed Mohun Bagan razzle - dazzled the Goan outfit with quick long balls and one touch football. The first goal came twenty three minutes into the match when Noel Wilson sent a defence splitting through to Sushil Singh who shrugged off his markers with a couple of fine dribbles before firing home into the far post.

The second goal that came in the 29th minute was a five touch gem. Subhasis Roy Choudhury played a square pass to Koffi Agbessi who played a wall with Ebrahim. Ebrahim sent a through to Sushil, who played the ball on a platter for Koffi to stab home.

Under the stewardship of Biswajit Bhattacharyya, Mohun Bagan looked a transformed side, compact in defence, well knit in midfield and fluid upfront.

The two foreign recruits for the first time in the NFL looked like playing upto their potential.

Sushil scored once but missed a hatrick that was there for the taking. In the very second minute his powerful volley missed the mark by a whisker and then in the 46th minute, Ebrahim crowned a brilliant sprint with a measured cross to Sushil whose volley struck the upright before going out.

Mohun Bagan missed two more chances with Ebrahim hitting the far post and Dharamjit heading over from a Koffi center with only the goalkeeper at his mercy.

In the second half the script continued unaltered as Bagan continued their dominance both in the midfield and upfront. Biswajit tried out a few changes and brought in fresh legs like Dipendu Biswas and Jerry replacing Dharamjit and Sushil Singh respectively.

The flair showed as Mohun Bagan kept up their stranglehold but for an occasional Ello Rafaq attempt or Ivan Basilva volley that missed their mark.

Mohun Bagan now have eight points in as many matches while Fransa remains on three points from seven. Koffi was awarded Man of the Match for his allround display.

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