KOLKATA: Newly appointed Mohammedan Sporting Club Head Coach Subrata Bhattacharya had a meeting with Club General Secretary Jb. Mohammad Qamaruddin, Football Secretary Jb. Sharique Ahmed and Team Manager Jb. Belal Ahmed Khan on Sunday evening at Club tent regarding the upcoming football season.

The Club handed over a list of 25 players to the new gaffer, which includes consistent performers from the previous season such as Priyant Singh, Kamran Farooque, Satyam Sharma, Prosenjit Paul, Desmos Arthur Kouassi, Balwinder Singh, Firoz Ali, Mohammed Amirul, Moniruzzaman Ansari, Asif Ali Molla and Safiur Rahman beside some new faces.

It has been decided that The Black Panthers will begin their pre-season training from June 15, 2019 at Mohammedan Sporting Club Stadium, which will be followed by a month long residential camp at Kalyani starting from July 1, 2019.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club failed to qualify for the final round of 2018/19 Hero Junior League after playing out a goalless draw with United Sports Club in their last Kolkata Zonal Round Group B fixture on Monday.

After ATK defeated Keshab Uma Charitable Trust Football Academy (KUCTFA) earlier this morning, Mohammedan needed to win their match at any cost to qualify for the final round, but the Young Panthers could only manage a draw at home against United SC which left Mohammedan and ATK tied on 17 points, but the latter made it to the final round thanks to their better head-to-head record over Mohammedan. 

The teams traded a multitude of chances through the first-half, though there were a few which stood out as great opportunities to take the lead.

In the 14th minutes Mohammedan’s Sujay Buduk played a great ball into the penalty area to find a late run from Srimanta Kisku, but the midfielder’s flicked header flashed over the crossbar, much to United SC goalkeeper Manasa Manna’s relief.

Midway through the first-half, at the other end of the field, Mohammedan custodian Afroz Ahmed completely missed a cross from Jeet Nandi and Akash Das reacted well to control the unexpected ball, but then stabbed a shot wide of the target from just a few meters out.

Mohammedan midfielder Sany Mondal then hit the woodwork twice – in the 34th and 36th minutes – as he rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort, before redirecting a low cross from William Lalgoulien onto the base of the far post.

The Young Panthers continued to pile on the pressure early in the second-half and United SC needed goalkeeper Manasa Manna to make a finger-tip save to keep out a deft chip from Sujay in the 51st minute.

Mohammedan had a major scare in the 67th minute when Afroz allowed a tame effort from Soheyur Rahaman to slip through his fingers – luckily for the ‘keeper the ball trickled just wide of the target.

The remainder of the match was a frustrating time for Mohammedan, who dominated play but were unable to find a way through United SC’s resilient defence. Even the introduction of Nabakumar Santra and Dip Hazra off the bench didn’t help the hosts find the breakthrough.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club reclaimed their place at the summit of Kolkata Zonal Round Group B after beating Keshab Uma Charitable Trust Football Academy (KUCTFA) 2-0 in their Hero Junior League clash on Friday at Gangadharpur B.ed College Ground.

The Young Panthers struck in each side of the pitch through William Lalgoulien (45+1′) and Srimanta Kisku (61′) to claim their fifth win of the campaign.

Mohammedan SC hugely deserved all the three points as they dominated KUCTFA with their expensive attacking football where they dominated in every respect where they played the dominant football that their coach Yan Law preaches.  

Mohammedan SC dominated proceedings from the very beginning and kept the ball in the rival half itself during the opening quarter. However, with the KUCTFA defence staying deep, Mohammedan SC were finding it tough to penetrate.

On the other hand, KUCTFA who were pressed back for the majority of the half, did well to absorb the pressure and looked dangerous on the few times they attacked. Goalkeeper Afroz Ahmed had to make a number of fine saves to keep Mohammedan SC in the contest.

Nonetheless, Mohammedan SC almost took the lead when Sujay Buduk pumped up a ball from the midfield in the 34th minute. The perfect pass found Mohammad Zeedan on the run just outside the box, but the winger shot wide.

However, Mohammedan SC kept pressing and were rewarded with the opening goal in additional time William slotted past KUCTFA goalkeeper Dip Maity from close to give his side the well-deserved lead. 

Mohammedan doubled their advantage in the 61st minute. Srimanta made an unhindered run into the area, and was able to pick his spot in the back of the net as the KUCTFA defenders stood stunned.

KUCTFA reacted by using all five substitutions within 15 minutes of going 2-0 down and they proceeded to dominate the remainder of the game. However, they were unable to find a way past Afroz, who made several excellent saves.

Mohammedan SC could have even added to the scoreline through substitute Nabakumar Santra, who found himself one-on-one with Dip, but his chipped finish drifted just wide of the post.

The Young Panthers who have 16 points from 7 matches will face United Sports Club on April 29, 2019 at Mohammedan Sporting Ground in their last match of the Kolkata Zonal Round, and should they win the match then they will make it to the final round for the first time since 2016/17 season.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club were held to a goalless draw by ATK in their Hero Junior League Kolkata Zonal Round Group B clash on Saturday.

It was all Mohammedan in this tie but they just weren’t able to find a way past a stubborn ATK side and had to settle for a solitary point at Mohammedan Sporting Ground.

William Lalgoulien showed his goal threat with a dangerous early shot that forced ATK custodian Passang Narbu Sherpa in to a good low save. 

Mithunendu Mondal then drew a stop from the visiting shot-stopper before a good ball over the top from Irfan Mondal found Srimanta Kisku but his touch was poor, allowing ATK defenders to clear. 

William got in behind the opposition defence but he was beaten to the loose ball by ATK defender Ningombam Engson Singh before another chance saw the striker again thwarted by the busy keeper. 

A 31st minute long range effort from Sujay Buduk was well wide before Aftab Ali’s lofted effort failed to test Passang Narbu Sherpa in the 35th minute.

Five minutes into the second-half saw  William and Sujay combine well before being crowded out while the ATK defence were grateful to clear a good Mithunendu ball into the box. 

Sujay shot just wide on the volley for the best chance of the game, from a Arghya Sarkar cross swing in from the left as Passang Narbu Sherpa got back to deny the hosts’ attack from latching onto a threaded a ball as the tie wore on. 

Substitute Mohammad Hussain Shah injected some more pace into the Mohammedan attack and, so nearly set up William for the win, but the striker’s late shot was deflected wide. 

And that proved to be the last real chance of the match, with Mohammedan having to settle for a point.

Despite the draw Mohammedan continue to lead the standings in Group B with 13 points from 6 matches and will face Keshab Uma Charitable Trust Football Academy next on April 26, 2019.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club consolidated their position at the top of the Hero Junior League Kolkata Zonal Round Group B log by beating NBP Rainbow Athletic Club 3-1 at Gayeshpur Ground on Wednesday.

Sujay Buduk (20′), Srimanta Kisku (57′) and William Lalgoulien (79′) were on target for the Young Panthers before Rainbow pulled a goal back though Jit Das (90+3′).

The Young Panthers could have had their biggest win of the campaign had they not opted to slow the pace and take their foot off the pedal in the second-half.

Mohammedan came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute when Mithunendu Mondal met a Irfan Mondal corner-kick, but his six-yard header struck the side netting.

The Young Panthers continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 20th minute.

A swift counter-attack saw Sujay through on goal and he proceeded to superbly chip the onrushing Sourav Mallick to give his side the lead.

Rainbow tried to find their way back into the match and came close in the 27th minute when a thunderous 35-yard shot from Sayan Saha rattled the crossbar.

A minute later the play was at the other end of the park as William drove a low cross into the box which was also turned onto the woodwork from six-yards out by Aftab Ali.

In the 34th minute the frame of the goal was struck for the third time when Srimanta controlled the ball on his chest before firing his 16-yard volley against the crossbar.

The action continued to flow from end to end in what was an exciting first-half, but neither side could find another goal before half-time.

The start of the second-half saw Rainbow dominate all the possession, but they struggled to break down a resolute Mohammedan defence.

Instead, the goal came at the other end, against the run of play, as Srimanta broke the off-side trap and then slotted  past Sourav from close range.

Mohammedan never really looked troubled by Rainbow’s efforts on attack and they were to get a further insurance goal in the 79th minute as William produced a clinical finish from just inside the box.

Nonetheless, Rainbow did manage to score a consolation goal in the final minute of stoppage time through substitute Jit Das.

Mohammedan who now have 12 points from 5 matches will face ATK next on April 20, 2019 at Mohammedan Sporting Ground.

KALYANI: Mohammedan Sporting Club returned to the winning ways in 2018/19 Hero Junior League after beating United Sports Club 3-2 in a highly-entertaining clash at the Kalyani Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

The performance was a perfect response by the Young Panthers, who have come under scrutiny after losing against ATK earlier this week.

William Lalgoulien (19′), Sujay Buduk (49′) and Aftab Ali (72′) were on target for the Young Panthers, while Surajit Ghosh (31′) and Akash Das (55′) scored for United SC.

Looking to stamp their authority on proceedings, the Young Panthers had the United SC defence under all kinds of pressure early on and they could have scored twice in the opening ten minutes, were it not for a lack of composure in front of goal by Mithunendu Mondal and some excellent goalkeeping from Abhijit Saren.

Nonetheless, Mohammedan’s blistering start was to pay dividends in the 19th minute when Arghya Sarkar’s excellent long pass sent William through on goal and he scored to give his side the lead.

United SC, though, grafted their way back around the half hour mark through Surajit. The striker turned inside the box to slot past Mohammedan goalkeeper Afroz Ahmed in the 31st minute.

From the goal onwards, United SC dominated the proceedings and could have taken the lead in the 35th minute when Subhajit Mandi had a good opportunity to put the hosts into the lead following some great work by Ismail Mondal, but the former’s effort was brilliantly saved by Afroz.

Meanwhile, Mohammedan also gave a good account of themselves in the later stages of the half but United SC made sure they kept things tight and compact as the both teams went into the break locked at 1-1.

The Young Panthers came back rejuvenated following their half-time team talk with coach Murari Kar and they took the lead in the 49th minute after some quality short passing on the right hand side of the park, saw the ball eventually threaded to Sujay who fired the ball with his right foot into the back of the goal.

However, the hosts kept pressing and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 55th minute, when from a free-kick on the left, Akash Das’ glancing header found the perfect angle at the left hand post, to beat Afroz.

Nonetheless, the parity was only restored only till the 72nd minute as the visitors piled pressure on the hosts and Aftab made it 3-2 to Mohammedan with a powerful first-time shot.

United SC, meanwhile, kept on pushing for an unlikely equaliser, but with Mohammedan SC content to sit back and defend, it was always going to be a tough ask, though substitute Bishal Mondal did come close in the dying minutes, only for Afroz to block at his feet.

Mohammedan, who now have 9 points from 4 matches, will face NBP Rainbow AC on April 17, 2019 at Gayeshpur Stadium.

BARASAT: Mohammedan Sporting Club suffered their first defeat of the 2018-19 Hero Junior League (U-15) when they succumbed 2-0 to ATK on Monday morning.

ATK claimed the victory thanks to goals from Anurup Limbu (3′) and Rakibul Islam (90+5′) at the Aditya School of Sports Ground in Barasat.

Mohammedan SC started the match on the front foot and had a few promising moments early on, but were kept in check by ATK’s defence of Rohan Orao and Paresh Hansda.

It was at the other end, however, where the opening goal arrived and it was Anurup who scored to give ATK the lead in the 3rd minute.

ATK’s lead, overall, seemed a deserved, though, for the manner in which their pace at times embarrassed Mohammedan SC defence, such as in the 13th minute where, with Mohammedan SC defenders scattered on the ground, Manav Mullick’s shot thundered off the upright.

Mohammedan SC though created many chances but failed to equalize, as they failed to stick to their passing game policy. The players seemed to be keener on playing direct football sending long balls from the centre-line as the ATK defence held firm and ensured that they retained the advantage going into the break.

In the second-half, the sides came out of the changing rooms with different tactics. Mohammedan SC were the first to surge forward, with the blistering pace of William Lalgoulien, but ATK’s defence were up to the standard and managed to clear.

Mohammedan SC had most of the possession as the game wore on. But ATK intelligently and stubbornly defended their lead.

And with the visitors pressing forward, their could always be the chance the other way, materialising when Achinta Das’ pass picked out Rakibul to produce a fine strike into the top-right corner to seal the full three points for ATK.

Mohammedan SC, who have 6 points from 3 matches, will face United Sports Club next on April 11, 2019 at Kalyani Stadium.

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club registered a second successive win in the 2018/19 Hero Junior League (U-15) with a 3-1 victory over Keshab-Uma Charitable Trust Football Academy (KUCTFA) on Friday morning.

Mithunendu Mondal (40′),  Aftab Ali (49′) and Sujay Buduk (73′) were on target for the Young Panthers at Mohammedan Sporting Ground, before Nur Hosen (86′) pulled a goal back for KUCTFA.

The Young Panthers were dominating possession in the first ten minutes of the encounter but mostly in their own half as they were trying to build combinations.  

William Lalgoulien should have opened the scoring with Mohammedan’s first clear opening in the 21st minute, as he placed his effort wide of the goal from six-yards out.

Sujay then tried his luck with a free-kick from 25-yards out but the striker’s curling effort was palmed away for a corner by the rival custodian Dip Maity.

Nonetheless, Mohammedan continued to push forward and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 40th minute when Mithunendu, who came as a substitute in the 34th minute, scored with a cracking strike at the far post following well floated square pass from Sany Mondal.

Meanwhile, KUCTFA had a late surge towards the end of the half looking for the equaliser, but the Mohammedan defence did not crack as they took a solitary goal lead into half-time.

Mohammedan started the second-half like a house on fire, and it was evident from the very beginning that the Young Panthers were going to collect full points as KUCTFA players were outclassed in all departments.

The Young Panthers duly doubled their lead in the 49th minute when KUCTA defence gave the ball away carelessly and Aftab burst through into the area on the left hand side and deposited the ball past the helpless Dip for a 2-0 lead.

KUCTFA, on the other hand, looked to push for a goal to get back in to the game, but were unable to launch dangerous attacks other than aimless long balls into the Mohammedan penalty area.

As the match wore on, Mohammedan started to show some signs of fatigue, however, that did not stopped them from adding a third in the 73rd minute when Sujay slotted from inside the box after being played through on goal by Bijoy Roy.

KUCTFA, however, did not go down without a fight as they pulled a goal back in the 86th minute after Nur Hosen scored following an error at the back.

The Young Panthers who now have six points from two matches will face ATK next on Monday at Aditya School of Sports Ground.