By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media
NEW DELHI: Two outright wins by the home teams and two stalemates sum up the seventh game week of Hero I-League 2015-16. Kingfisher East Bengal wreaked on Shillong Lajong FC and surged up to the top spot on the first match day of game week 7. Bengaluru FC handsomely beat debutants DSK Shivajians at their backyard to plunder the pole position within 24 hours of losing it to the Red & Golds. Reigning champions Mohun Bagan fought out of their skin to earn a point against Mumbai FC at Cooperage Stadium. The pulsating Goa derby failed to find a winner as Salgaocar FC’s early lead was cancelled out by a strike from Marcus Mascarenhas.
Shillong Lajong FC couldn’t produce much in their second away fixture of Hero I-League 2015-16 when they took on the Red & Golds at Barasat Stadium. Riding on a fine hat-trick from Ranti Martins and a second half long-ranger from Bikash Jairu, Kingfisher East Bengal outsmarted Shillong Lajong FC and reached the pole for the first time this season. With the hat-trick, Ranti took his tally to 7 goals in as many matches. Bikash Jairu and Sanju Pradhan had a blistering game along with the veteran medio Mehtab Hossain, who was withdrawn after 75 minutes to introduce the fresh pair of legs of Cavin Lobo.
There was a doubleheader on Wednesday as Bengaluru FC were poised to host DSK Shivajians and Mumbai FC welcomed champions Mohun Bagan at Cooperage.
Bengaluru FC had very little time to recuperate after their defeat to Sporting Clube de Goa in the last game week. Gaffer Ashley Westwood started with Shankar Sampingiraj after the sturdy Bengaluru boy missed the last game owing to his knee injury. DSK Shivajians got startled in the 11th minute as Sunil Chhetri showed his suavity from the top of the box. The North Korean striker Kim Song Yong doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. Sampath Kuttymani, the fresh signing by Derrick Periera, lessened the gap in the added minutes of the first half. Bengaluru FC didn’t show any sign to pull the plug after the lemon break as Len and Shankar found the net to secure their second win at their home.
Mohun Bagan showed their urgency right from the kick-off when their in-form striker, Cornell Glen, almost broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the game. Mumbai FC gaffer Khalid Jamil was spot on with his physical football and counter-attacking game. Albeit none could hurt much in the first half, Mumbai FC went more physical in the second half to thwart their opponents and referee had to flash the yellow card on four different occasions to tame them down. Katsumi Yusa, the Mariners skipper, nicely brushed aside Pratik Chowdhury from the right wing and delivered a juicy ball to Sony Norde, who completely lost his balance but hit the woodwork. The Mumbai outfit shared the points with Mohun Bagan and continued to stay affirm in the 4th spot with 9 points, 2 shy of Mohun Bagan who now travel to Bengaluru.
Sporting Clube de Goa approached the Goa Derby riding on their terrific win against Bengaluru FC in last game week. On the other hand, their city rivals Salgaocar FC had a week off after they resumed the Hero I-League campaign under Santosh Kashyap. In the 22nd minute of the match, much to against the game, Darryl Duffy found the back of the net from a loopy corner of Jackichand Singh. Odafa Okolie, although continued to push Salgaocar FC defenders, failed to find the elusive goal. Marcus Mascarenhas, from a rebound of Odafa Okolie, finally restored the parity in the 78th minute. The Flaming Oranje attackers, especially Ganesh Thakur, and Marcus Mascarenhas tried to find a late winner but couldn’t break the resolute Salgaocar FC defense.
Bengaluru FC maintain their supremacy at the top of the table with 15 points from 7 matches and Kingfisher East Bengal are breathing on their neck with 14 points playing as many matches. Mohun Bagan are close third on the table, having gathered 11 points playing 2 matches fewer. Salgaocar FC are still tottering at the bottom of the table with 2 points.
