By I-League Media

GUWAHATI: Hero I-League champions Mohun Bagan came out all guns blazing against Maziya Sport & Recreation Club tonight, having registered an unassailable 5-2 win in their AFC Cup opener. Yangon United registered a slim win over South China in the other group G fixture.

The Mariners showed their intention right from the beginning and Sony Norde opened the goalmouth in the 19th minute. Jeje Lalpekhlua and Cornell Glen also found the back of the net before the break and a 3-0 scoreline at the breather almost sealed the result for the Hero I-League champions.

Mohun Bagan didn’t pull the plug after the break and they pushed hard to make their first win in the AFC Cup a massive one. Just after the hour-mark, Ahmed Imaaz scored the first goal for Majiya Sport & Recreation Club leaving Mohun Bagan defense clueless. 8 minutes later, Jeje Lalpekhlua scored his second and the fifth goal was netted by the Trinidad & Tobago-born striker Cornell Glen in the 71st minute. The goal by the lanky striker, who has already scored 4 goals in the ongoing Hero I-League, nailed the final one in the coffin and the first AFC Cup win by the Mariners was just a matter of time.

Although the own goal by Raju Gaikwad in the 76th minute minimised the gap, there was no late drama in the dying minutes and the Mariners amassed all three points from their first AFC Cup match. Nevertheless, The emphatic victory ended the Mariners’ dreadful run in the AFC Cup. On their last appearance in 2009, they had to bite the dust in all the 6 group matches.

Mohun Bagan will travel to Hong Kong to clash their swords with South China on 9th March. Meanwhile, now they will travel to Goa to take on Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa on 27th February and 1st March respectively in the ongoing Hero I-League.