Cornell Glen struck twice as defending champion Mohun Bagan continued its winning run by notching up a convincing 3-1 win over Salgaocar FC to remain at the top of the table after the 9th round of the Hero I-League played at the Tilak Stadium here today.
Bagan scored through Jeje Lalpekhlua (13th minute) and Glen Cornell (30th, 45+2), while Salgaocar FC pulled one back in the 71st minute through Darryl Duffy.
Salgaocar was reduced to 10 men in the second half after Gilbert Oliveira, who had an altercation with substitute Bikramjit Singh, lost his cool and exchanged blows with him, prompting referee Rowan Arumughan to give him his marching orders.
The win takes Mohun Bagan four points clear of East Bengal as it leads the table with 21 points from nine matches while Salgaocar FC is facing relegation at the bottom of the table with five points from nine matches.
Bagan, who is leading the table at the end of the first leg, played as a unit with Sony Norde, Jeje and Kastumi Yusa co-ordinating the midfield well and proving a threat to the rival defence.
Bagan, who missed Luciano Sobrosa and Pronoy Halder due to suspension, did not feel their absence as the defence put in a solid performance and kept Darryl Duffy quiet even as Salgaocar failed to trouble them.
Bagan started with a brisk pace and had early chance to surge ahead but Cornell Glen’s attempt at goal missed the target narrowly. The visitor kept up the pressure and finally found the net in the 13th minute.
Lenny Rodrigues executed the move from the left and played the ball to Sony Norde who in turn gave back the ball to Lenny whose attempt at goal was blocked by keeper Karanjit Singh. The rebound fell to the feet of Jeje Lalpekhlua who found the back of the net even as defender Eder dived but could not put the ball out of danger.
Bagan increased the lead in the 30th minute when Sony’s corner kick and Kastumi Yusa’s attempt at the goal saw the ball deflect Salgaocar defender Eder and reach Cornell Glen who made no mistake in finding the net.
Salgaocar, who made a lot of mistakes in the midfield, conceded another goal in the stoppage time of the first half.
Cornell Glen got the ball on the edge of the box and beat keeper Karanjit Singh with a low shot into the far corner of the net to take Bagan to a 3-0 lead at half time.
Changing over, Bagan continued to impress in the midfield but could not score more goals as it kept the ball among itself for the better part.
Salgaocar reduced the margin in the 71st minute when Jackichand Singh floated the ball from the left which Darryl nodded into the net. But after it was reduced to ten men all hopes of any come back evaporated.
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