Mohammedan stun JCT 2-1 in NFL opener

New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) A last gasp strike by Habibur Rehman Mondal helped Mohammedan Sporting script a fine come-from-behind 2-1 victory over JCT in the National Football League opening tie here today.

Trailing 0-1 at the breather, the Kolkata side clawed back their way in the second session to run away with full points against their more fancied rivals.

International Mondal headed in a well flighted Bijen Singh cross in the 89th minute to stun JCT, after Kulothungan (68th minute) neutralised Renedy Singh's 29th minute goal.

However, it was the millmen who dominated throughout the first half and would have taken 3-0 lead had not the woodwork denied them.

As early as the seventh minute, Renedy Singh's freekick found Adebayo Tokundo connecting with a fierce header only to hit the crosspiece after beating rival goalkeeper Gopal Das.

Ten minutes later, Sunil Chhetri was unlucky when his left footer from the left top corner of the box, after dodging past a couple of defenders, rebounded after hitting the bar and Chidi Edeh's header from the resultant corner kick missed the target.

Edeh and Chhetri continued to threaten Mohammedan defence and they were well supported by midfielders Shivraj Singh and Adebayo.

The millmen's hard work bore fruit in the 29th minute and Renedy justified his dead-ball specialist tag as he scored a brilliant goal from a free kick a few yards from the left top egde of the box.

Mohammedan were, however, not devoid of scoring chances in the first session and in the 39th minute, a Bijen Singh powerful right footer from the top of the box went past the out of position goalkeeper but saved by Anwar on the goaline.

After the breather, the Kolkata side made amends of their mediocre show in the first half and started taking control of the match. Coach Subhas Bhowmick's move to replace Harbinder Singh by Kulothungan after resumption paid dividends and the striker from Tamil Nadu equalised for Mohammedan in the 68th minute. He outsprinted Harpreet Singh in pursuit of a Noel Wilson long aerial pass and lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper into the net.

Two minutes from the final whistle, Habibur, who did India duty in the Doha Asiad, overturned JCT's applecart when his perfect header, connecting a measured cross from the right by Bijen Singh after Jatin Singh Bisht did the spadewoerk, sailed past the diving JCT goalkeeper Kalyan Cahubey and landed into the net.

Bhowmick later attributed the win to the recent fine form of his side.

''The first half was horrible but the boys played brilliant football in the second session. However, it was not the best football we had played in recent times. We played well in the IFA Shield and the Federation Cup and I am expecting better in the days ahead,'' Bhowmick said.

A disappointed JCT coach Sukhvinder Singh rued the missed chances in the first half but conceded they played badly in the second session.

''We hit the bar twice and could have finished the match in the first half itself. In the second session, the boys were a bit off colour with lots of mispasses. The upfront also lacked punch,'' he said.

Mohammedan play Dempo in Goa on January 12 in their next League fixture while JCT take on Mohan Bagan on January 10 at Ludhiana.

UNI