The returning Sony Norde wreaked havoc as Mohun Bagan AC cruised to a comfortable 2-1 win against Colombo FC in the 2nd leg of the AFC Cup qualifier at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata.
Mohun Bagan won the 1st leg with the same score line in Colombo and now qualified for the next stage with a 4-2 aggregate win.
Spirited Colombo FC push Mohun Bagan to the edge
Indian giants Mohun Bagan AC were made to huff and puff by Colombo FC for a 2-1 win in the 1 st leg of the AFC Cup qualifier played at the Race Course International Stadium.
Sony Norde who missed the 1st leg through injury started this match to score one and assisted another in a virtuoso performance. Though Colombo FC scored one late in the game by that time Mohun Bagan had already taken the foot off the peddle with the game in the bag.
Colombo FC too made a few changes with Rawme Mohideen, Mohamed Rifnaz and E.B.Channa coming in for Dilan Kaushalya, Mohamed Ramees and Zarwan Johar.
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Needing at least a 2-0 win the visitors pressed hard in the opening 20 minutes looking to force a mistake from the hosts, however Mohun Bagan weathered the pressure and got back into the game with ease.
They scored the opener in the 28th minute with an exquisitely placed ball from Sony. Darryl Duffy laid off the ball for Sony, on the edge of the box, to power a low ball to the bottom far corner where goalkeeper Mohamed Imran could have made the stop.
Three minutes later Duffy tried an acrobat move to score another but missed the target. Colombo FC on the other had the chance to equalize but Rifnaz could only shoot straight at Shilton Paul from a Chalana Chameera cross.
Two minutes before half time Mohun Bagan went on a mesmerizing 4 on 1 counter attack spearheaded by Sony, but Bikramjith Singh shot straight at Imran after Sony squared him off.
Colombo’s Momas Yapo had one last effort before half time which was saved by Paul.
Half time – Mohun Bagan AC 1 – 0 Colombo FC
Colombo FC started off the 2nd half positively with a free-kick which troubled the defence but once again it was Sony who simply stunned the visitors.
He breezed past Charitha Rathnayake to the byline before squaring the ball and Duffy had the easiest of tap-ins from inches out to make it 2-0.
Colombo FC made a change bringing in Zarwan for Rifnaz who almost immediately pulled one back but it was cleared off the line and Afis Olayemi forced a save from Paul from a Momas Yapo through ball.
Sony Norde made one final effort for a goal before he and Duffy were replaced with more than 15 minutes left in the game. It looked as if the visitors would stage a comeback with Yapo again forcing a save from Paul but the Mariners kept it calm.
Afeel Mohamed handball in the 77th minute gave a penalty but was exceptionally saved by Imran to keep Colombo FC in the game.
With two minutes left in the game Momas Yapo went on a Messi-esque run and slotted the ball past a diving Shilton Paul to make the final few minutes interesting.
However the visitors were unable to find two more for the win as referee blew for full time after 4 minutes of injury time.
Full time – Mohun Bagan AC 2 – 1 Colombo FC
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Sony Norde (Mohun Bagan AC)
