Willis Plaza scored a brace as Churchill Brothers thumped Mohun Bagan 4-2 in Sunday’s I-League encounter at the Kalyani Stadium.
This was a back-to-back win for the Goan side as they have now climbed top of the table with six points.
For Bagan, they again missed chances and overall had a terrible day on the field in what was their first home match of the League. With just one point from two matches, Bagan face TRAU FC next here on Wednesday.
The visitors drew the first blood as early as in the second minute. Plaza, their man in form, nodded in a Dawda Ceesay cross even before the home team supporters could settle down. As Plaza went for the header, his marker, fellow compatriot Daniel Cyrus, was busy watching the proceedings.
Bagan got an opportunity to equalise in the 19th minute, but Churchill Brothers goalkeeper Jafar Mondal made two consecutive saves to avert trouble. Fran Gonzalez headed a Joseba Beitia corner towards goal, but Mondal pulled off an acrobatic save. Suhair VP then made an attempt off the rebound, but that too was cleared by the Churchill Brothers goalkeeper.
The visitors extended their lead in the 28th minute when Robert Junior Primus’s header found the target from a Ceesay flag-kick.
Bagan got a lifeline four minutes later when Nongdomba Naorem was tripped by Kalif Al Hassan inside the box and referee Om Prakash Thakur was quick to award the home team with a penalty.
Gonzalez made no mistake to convert the spot kick and reduced the margin for Bagan.
Bagan conceded their third goal when goalkeeper Debjit Majumdar couldn’t hold on to Plaza’s long-ranger and it found the target.
Bagan coach Kibu Vicuna made two changes at the start of the second half. Salva Chamorro came in place of Gonzalez, while Britto PM was replaced by Sk. Sahil.
Bagan were again making impressive moves, but their execution was again below par. Chamorro failed to score even from hand-shaking distance. That too, more than once.
Churchill Brothers had practically sealed the game in the 76th minute with their fourth goal. Israil Gurung’s flag-kick was initially headed away, but the winger in his second attempt floated in a good cross off which, Abu Bakr converted.
Young Subho Ghosh, substituting Naorem, scored his first I-League goal which was nothing but consolation for Bagan.
Douglas cautious
TRAU FC technical director Douglas da Silva said his team would not get any advantage when they face Bagan on Wednesday. “Bagan are a very strong side. They have experienced players and I think they have faced a situation like this before, so they will put this loss against Churchill Brothers behind them and take on us with a fresh mind,” the Brazilian said.