Kolkata giant Mohun Bagan kicked off its AFC Cup campaign with a commanding 5-2 victory over Maziya Sports and Recreation Club of the Maldives, here on Wednesday.
Mohun Bagan scored through Sony Norde, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Glen Cornell in its Group G home leg match, at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium.
Norde struck the opening goal for Mohun Bagan when he sent his powerful freekick into the back of the net in the 19th minute.
The Kolkata giant, having failed to make the grade at the top tier Asian Champions League, scored its second goal through a Jeje Lalpekhlua strike in the 33rd minute.
Mohun Bagan went 3-0 up two minutes later as Glen Cornell found the back of the net with a lovely strike to leave the visiting team staring at embarrassment.
After the change of ends, luck smiled on Maziya as Imaaz Ahmed reduced the margin with a tap-in.
However, Mohun Bagan continued its good run of form with another goal, again through Jeje in the 69th minute.
Barely three minutes later, Cornell, too, once again joined in the party, scoring the team’s fifth and his second goal.
Courtesy an own goal by Raju Gaikwad in the 77th minute, Maziya reduced the margin.
The reigning I-League champion is playing at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium as the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata has been shut down for matches to prepare it for next year’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup and none of the other stadiums nearby fulfil AFC standards.
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