I-League Media Team

NEW DELHI: Having already sealed a berth in the Round of 16, today Mohun Bagan have confirmed the pole position from Group G. Having signed off their Hero I-League campaign with a thumping win over champions Bengaluru FC, the Mariners travelled all the way to Maldives to take on Maziya S&RC, whom they have beaten by an commanding scoreline of 5-2 at home on the matchday 1. The first half at the National Stadium in Male was a cold affair as both teams were little concerned to show any urgency to take the challenge to the opponent half.

In the 65th minute, Assadhulla Abdulla drew the first blood for the hosts when his blistering shot from 15 yards found the back of the net as goalie Arnab Das Sharma was completely off his position following his challenge on Ismail Easa. As the Maldives outfit started sensing their second straight home victory, Jeje Lalpekhlua headed it home from a long cross hovered by Prabir Das from the right flank. With his diving header, Jeje took his tally to 6 goals from 5 matches in the ongoing AFC Cup.

Having earned the solitary point from today’s match, the Mariners have secured the top spot from Group G with 11 points and they’ll face South China, who have come up to the second spot in the group after their win against Yangon United tonight, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati on May 11 in the last matchday of the round robin stage. Having already secured the pinnacle spot fro Group G, Mohun Bagan will lock their horns with the Runners up from Group E on May 24 in the Round of 16.

Albeit it has been a dead rubber in Siliguri, the Blues had to swallow a heavy defeat to the Mariners in the last fixture of the Hero I-League on last Saturday. Today, it was an acid test for Amrinder Singh and the defense and they passed the Lao Toyota test in front of the noisy Blues fans who left no stone unturned to welcome the Laos outfit with a hostile reception. The Blues hit the pitch first time after being crowned with their second Hero I-League trophy in three years and they successfully buried Lao Toyota’s chance to make into the Round of 16 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

At the stroke of the half-time, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who was adjudged as the Best Midfielder of the Hero I-League 2015-16, opened the scoreline with a well-timed header of a ball unleashed by Michael Collins. The visitors were walking a tightrope, eventually the home side smothered their second goal when the lanky striker Kim Song Yong tapped it home from close range. Within seven minutes, Lao Toyota came back strongly when Homma halved the gap from 12 yards.

Lao Toyota’s hope of clinching a point from the Garden City evaporated when Saynakkhonevieng was given the marching order after his harsh challenge on CK Vineeth.  With the win, Bengaluru FC have secured their berth in the Round of 16 from Group H behind defending champions Johar Darul Ta’zim, who have already secured the top spot with an unscathed winning run so far. The Blues will now travel to Malaysia to clash their horns with the Malaysian heavyweights on May 11. They’ve to travel once again for their Round of 16 encounter when they will face the Winners from Group F on May 25.