Mohun Bagan Super Giant cruised past Punjab FC 2-0 in a Group A match of the Durand Cup at the rain-drenched Kishore Bharati Stadium on Monday.

With six points from two matches, Bagan now have one foot in the last-eight stage. Their next match is on Saturday against Emami East Bengal.

Monday’s victory will give them the confidence before the season’s first Derby clash. The rain made conditions worse and players found it difficult to find their footing in the slush.

Bagan went ahead in the 23rd minute. Manvir Singh from the right played a ball to Suhail Bhat. Punjab FC defender Melroy Assisi tried to clear it but ended up scoring an own goal.

In the 48th minute, Bagan got their second. Hugo Boumous freed Liston Colaco on the left. Punjab FC goalkeeper Kiran Limbu failed to gather Colaco’s centre and Boumous prodded it home before Nikhil Prabhu could clear it.

Punjab FC were unlucky immediately after conceding the second goal. Krishnananda Singh found his captain Luka Majcen on the edge of the box and the Slovenian’s rasping shot hit the horizontal bar. Majcen was again in the thick of things and this time attempt from close was saved by Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.

Bagan coach Juan Ferrando named two foreigners — Brendon Hamill and Boumous — in the first eleven and also gave India national team defender Anwar Ali his first start. First-team regular Subhashish Bose and midfielder Glan Martins also got ample game time.

“Our real focus is on the AFC Cup match (August 16). I am not thinking about the Derby. Yes, it’s an important match. I have seen East Bengal play against Bangladesh Army yesterday (Sunday). They have a good team and I have respect for my rival.

“But I am not too bothered about East Bengal. I am only thinking about my team. The main target is to improve my players,” Ferrando said at the post-match news conference.

Bagan midfielder Abhishek Suryawanshi was impressive. “It’s a dream to come and play for Bagan. I am working hard and will try to live up to expectations,” he said.

Armymen win

Liton Shil scored and was later sent off as Indian Army held on to their solitary goal to beat Odisha FC in a Group F fixture at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar.

Shil gave the lead in the 42nd minute which was enough for the side to clinch victory against the ISL side.

The armymen could have scored in the very first minute but Rahul Ramakrishnan failed to capitalise on a Deepak Singh cutback. In the 42nd minute, Samir Murmu played a through ball to Shil who scored without much ado.