Darryl Duffy scored a hat-trick debuting for Mohun Bagan, which thrashed Aryan Club 5-1 to start its Calcutta Football League premier division campaign on a confident note, here at home on Saturday.
Duffy, the Scottish striker making a move from Goa club Salgaocar SC, came alive with his goal-poaching skills midway in the second session when he struck thrice in a span of 11 minutes to ensure the big win for Bagan. Prabir Das and Azharuddin Mallick scored one apiece to complete the goal riot. Aryan forward Kazim fetched the only reply for his side towards the end of the action.
Mohun Bagan, which picked up the I-League title couple of seasons ago, has not been able to taste success in the local stage where its tradition rival East Bengal has been ruling claiming the CFL premier division crown for the last six years.
Looking to regain the crown Mohun Bagan set up a young side under coach Shankarlal Chakraborty, who assumed charge for the local contest as the club management sought to rest chief coach Sanjoy Sen for the bigger I-League assignment. Mohun Bagan took lead in the 15th minute off a fine solo effort from winger Prabir Das.
Leading 1-0 at the break, the host made a determined bid to enhance the lead and found Duffy responding in the right earnest as he found the net in the 62nd minute off a nicely taken free-kick. Next he shot home a back-centre from Das in the 66th minute to make it 3-0 for Bagan.
Duffy completed his hat-trick with a perfectly timed header on another Das assist to see the host leading 4-0 by the 73rd minute. Mallick completed the rout off a fine effort in the 77th minute (5-0) before Kazim pulled one back for Aryan late in the 89th minute.
The result: Mohun Bagan 5 (Prabir Das 15, Darryl Duffy 62, 66, 73, Azharuddin Mallick 77) bt Aryan Club 1 (Kazim 89).
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