March 16, 2016, will be eked as one of the glorious days in Indian Football history as both the Hero I-League clubs registered important victories in the AFC Cup against their fellow rivals. While Mohun Bagan stole a 3-2 victory over Yangon United ahead of the 2,700-odd spectators in Guwahati, Sunil Chhetri’s first-half strike confirmed all three points for Bengaluru FC against Ayeyawady United in Yangon.

Bengaluru’s first points in the competition this season put them on joint second in Group H with three points alongside Ayeyawady and Lao Toyota while Malaysian team Johor Darul Ta’zim keep the pole position.

It was Chhetri’s move that led to the goal when, after picking the ball on the edge of the box, he did well to find Udanta with a deft flick. The TFA cadet chose to cut back for the skipper who seemed to have miscued his shot and failed to connect cleanly. But Ayeyawady keeper Vanlal Hruai dived to his left in anticipation only to see the ball trickle in on his right.

Earlier Westwood started with a back four that had Keegan Pereira partnering John Johnson in the centre for a third straight game after regular centre-half Curtis Osano didn’t recover from a tweaked groin to make the squad. The gaffer also handed Alwyn George and Siam Hanghal starts in a midfield completed by Chhetri and Michael Collins while Udanta partnered Kim Song Yong ahead.

Mohun Bagan, the Hero I-League champions, are on a roll at the moment and Yangon United fell well short of ammo against the Mariners in their third AFC Cup match played at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati.

Sony Norde, who is supposed to leave to join his national team, opened the Mariners’ account in the 11th minute from a well-taken free kick by skipper Katsumi Yusa. Jeje Lalpekhlua, who’ll join the national camp soon for the forthcoming national duties against IR Iran and Turkmenistan for their FIFA World Cup 2018 & AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifiers, doubled their lead just after the 20th minute from a looping cross by the Haitian playmaker Sony Norde.

Prabir Das, who was deployed in the left-back to tame Marcelo Fernandes, the Brazilian striker of Yangon United, miscued to thwart an attempt and the referee didn’t hesitate to award a spot kick to the visiting team. The lanky Brazilian striker halved the lead from the 6-yard spot in the 34th minute.

After the lemon break, Yangon United hit the gas and they got the reward after the hour-mark when Marcelo Fernandes scored his second goal from a net-bursting header. The jubilation in the Yangon United dugout was cut short by Jeje Lalpekhlua in two minutes as he restored their lead over the Myanmar club, having netted his fifth goal in the ongoing AFC Cup.

Yangon United tried every option available to them but no late drama took place till the final whistle. With their third win on a trot, Mohun Bagan have already set one foot in the knockout stage. The Mariners have already netted 12 goals in three matches, highest by any team in AFC Cup 2016 along with the defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim.