The moment referee Santhosh Kumar blew the final whistle, there was unbridled euphoria at the Kalyani Stadium on Sunday.
The Mohun Bagan supporters’ joy knew no bounds as they did the ‘Viking Clap’ with the likes of Joseba Beitias, Fran Morante and Baba Diawara.
The 1-0 victory against second-placed Punjab FC — Diawara scored the all-important goal — helped the table-toppers consolidate their place in the I-League standings. The hosts now have 26 points from 11 matches. They are nine points ahead of second-placed Punjab FC. This was also the fourth win on the trot for the hosts and they are unbeaten in nine matches. Bagan are now firm favourites to win the title in their last I-League season.
Bagan made their intentions clear right from the word ‘go’. Joseba Beitia and Komron Tursunov combined well and brilliantly complemented by an overlapping right-back Ashutosh Mehta.
In the 20th minute, Beitia’s free-kick could have found the target but Punjab FC’s Nirmal Chhetri cleared the ball. Soon after Punjab FC defender Danilo Augusto saved a VP Suhair header off the goal-line.
Bagan took the lead in the 42nd minute when Diawara nodded in a loose ball dropped in front of the former Sevilla striker.
Punjab FC defender Anwar Ali failed to clear Dhanachandra Singh’s customary long throw-in and Diawara was at the right place at the right time to head it home. It was Diawara’s fourth goal in as many matches and fifth overall.
Bagan could have taken a two-goal lead but Morante’s goal was disallowed due to off-side.
Punjab FC went all-out for the equaliser in the final quarter but as Bagan defenders and goalkeer Sankar Roy were alert, it didn’t harm the hosts.
The match was not devoid of heated exchanges, though. Punjab FC striker Dipanda Dicka and and Morante got involved in a scuffle. Dipanda seemed to have stomped on Morante’s thigh and when Bagan players protested, the referee flashed a yellow card to both Dicka and the Spaniard.
Man of the moment Diawara, however, sounded happy. “The game was very important for us. I am happy they we have got full points. Yes I have scored, but it is all due to the teamwork. The atmosphere in the dressing room is fantastic right now,” Diawara, who dedicated the strike to son Amadou, said.
Coach Kibu Vicuna said Bagan still have a long way to go. “No, I don’t think the I-League is won yet. Twentysix points do not give you the title,” Vicuna said at the post-match media conference.
Vicuna was adjudged best coach of the I-League for the month of January. IFA secretary Joydeep Mukherjee handed over the trophy to Vicuna just before the match. Dipanda Dicka got the best player of the month award.
In Margao, Swiss recruit Jan Muzangu scored the match-winner as Chennai City FC beat Churchill Brothers 2-1.
