Category: Match Report

AIFF U-16 League: United SC beat 3-1 Mohammedan SC in Kolkata Zonal Round opener

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club began their AIFF U16 League 2016/17 Kolkata Zonal Round campaign with a 1-3 defeat to United SC at the Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground on Saturday.

A brace from Suraj Rajbanshi (2nd & 17th) and a goal from Ram Hembram (79th) scripted a rather comfortable victory for the visitors. Surajuddin Munshi (32nd), meanwhile, pulled a goal back for the hosts.

United SC began the game in attacking mode and took the lead as early as the 2nd minute when Suraj converted a free-kick just outside the Mohammedan SC box.

Having conceded early on, Mohammedan SC began attacking with intensity through Debraj Rakshit and Surajuddin. While Mohammedan SC pressed high up, United SC, at the other end, doubled their advantage as Suraj slotted past Mohammedan SC custodian Aftab Alam after recieving the ball from the left side.

Both sides, thereafter, engaged in some end-to-end action and having gone close on a few occasions, Mohammedan SC managed to pull a goal back through Surajuddin, who converted from spot in the 32nd minute.

Mohammedan SC in the remainder continued to push up and create chances but lacked the finishing touch in the rival box as the first half ended 1-2.

After change of ends, both sides battled hard in the midfield. While Mohammedan SC had the better chances to equalize, United SC capitalised on a defensive error as Ram’s 79th minute strike virtually finished off the game.

The hosts battled hard towards the end, but United SC held on and denied Mohammedan SC any chance to stage a late comeback as the game ended 1-3.

United SC’s Suraj Rajbanshi was declared the Man of the Match. He recieved a trophy and Rs. 1000 from Mohammedan SC’s Football Secretary Iqbal Ahmed and senior team members Rana Gharami and Alexandre Tabillon.

Prior to the match a opening ceremony took place with former India international footballers in Dipendu Biswas and Prasanta Chakraborty inaugurating the Kolkata Zonal Round beside Mohammedan SC’s General Secretary Ghazal Zafar and Senior Team Manager Belal Ahmed Khan.

Mohammedan SC will play debutantes Southern Samity next on October 2 at Howrah Stadium.

CFL: Mohammedan SC finish campaign with Derby win over Mohun Bagan

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club have finished their campaign in the ongoing Calcutta Football League with a 1-0 Derby win over Mohun Bagan on Sunday.

The all important goal came in the 61st minute through substitute Leonce Dodoz which eventually separated the teams in a evenly matched tie at Kalyani Stadium.

Going into the match Mohammedan SC coach Mridul Banerjee made four changes to the starting XI by handing starts to Sourav Chakraborty, Parminder Singh, Mohammad Saukat and Alexandre Tabillon at the expenses of  Rana Gharami, Atinder Mani, Mumtaz Akhtar and Dodoz.

Mohammedan SC began the game in attacking mode and created a couple of close chances early on. While Manvir Singh and Alexandre did well to get into spaces, the duo lacked the finish in the Bagan’s final third.

As the half progressed, Mohammedan SC started dominating the possession. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan defended deep and had their custodian Arnab Das Sarma to thank after he denied Manvir, Alexandre and Parminder on multiple occasions as both sides went into the breather tied at goalless.

The second half was a similar story as Mohammedan SC dominated majority of the proceedings and attacked with intensity looking for the breakthrough but once again the finishing was missing from the attackers.

However, Mohammedan SC’s persistence finally paid off as they pulled ahead just past the hour mark when Dodoz, who replaced Alexandre just at the stroke of half time, slotted the opener after being set up by Manvir.

Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, tried hard for the equalizer in the remainder of the game but thanks to keeper James Kithan, who pulled off some brilliant saves, Mohammedan SC managed to hold on to their slender advantage and walked out with all three points.

The win propelled to Mohammedan SC on the second spot with 20 points from 10 games and could finish as runners-up if  Tollygunge Agragami, who are on 11 points from 7 outings, drop points in any of their remaining games.

Mohammedan SC XI: James Kithan (GK); Nitesh Chhikara, Lancine Toure (c), Sourav Chakraborty, Pranit Lama; Parminder Singh (Sonam Bhutia – 86th), Mohammad Saukat (Mumtaz Akhtar – 59th), Dipankar Das, Dipendu Dowary; Manvir Singh, Alexandre Tabillon (Leonce Dodoz – 45th).

CFL: East Bengal lifts seventh successive league title; down Mohammedan SC 1-0

KALYANI: A wasteful Mohammedan Sporting Club went down 0-1 to East Bengal in their penultimate game of the Calcutta Football League on Thursday at Kalyani Stadium.

In a evenly matched Kolkata Derby, Do Dong Hyun’s goal from the spot in the 73rd minute did not only separated both teams but also ensured East Bengal’s seventh successive Calcutta Football League title after Mohun Bagan lost 0-1 to Tollygunge Agragami in a different fixture at Mohun Bagan Ground.

Going into the match Mohammedan SC coach Mridul Banerjee made three changes to the team that drew against United SC last week. While James Kithan replaced Sayan Roy under the bar, Atinder Mani and Pranit Lama Tamang came at the expenses of Mohammad Saukat and Kamran Farooque.

It was East Bengal who began the game aggressively and pushed up from the very beginning. Lalrindika Ralte was the first to go close when his effort narrowly missed the target in the 9th minute.

After soaking some pressure, Mohammedan SC began making inroads in the rival defense while Mohammedan SC push forward close chances fell for Leonce Dodoz, Manvir Singh and Dipankar Das but it was the lack of finishing that let them down as the first half ended goalless.

The second half was a similar story to the first as Mohammedan SC continued to dominate proceedings but attackes ran out of ideas on entering the penetrative zone of East Bengal.

While Mohammedan SC pressed high up, East Bengal managed to take the lead against the run of the play at the other end when Dong converetd a spot kick after Mohammedan SC custodian James Kithan fouled Lalrindika in prohibited area.

Mohammedan SC, afterwards, had numerous chances to equalise, but East Bengal managed to hold on with some solid defending as the game ended 1-0.

Mohammedan SC will play their final game in the competition on Sunday against Mohun Bagan, which will be another Derby, at Kalyani while East Bengal plays Aryan Club on the same day at Barasat.

Mohammedan SC XI – James Kaitan (GK); Nitesh Chikkaria, Lancing Toure, Rana Gharami (c), Pranit Lama Tamang; Atinder Mani (Sajeer KV – 61), Dipankar Das, Dipendu Dowary, Mumtaz Akhtar; Manvir Singh, Leonce Dodoz.

East Bengal XI – Dibyendu Sarkar (GK); Samad Ali Mallick (Koushik Sarkar – 93′), Arnab Mondal (c), Callum Angus, Narayan Das; Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Hossein, Mohammed Rafique (Bikash Jairu – 92′), Lalrindika Ralte; Do Dong Hyun (Abinash Ruidas-93′), Jiten Murmu.