Super Cup: Bagan stun Gokulam with 5-1 victory
Kozhikode: Liston Colaco struck twice as ATK Mohun Bagan defeated Gokulam Kerala 5-1 in their opening campaign in the Super Cup 2023 Group C league fixture at the EMS Stadium here on Monday.
Liston Colaco struck two sensational goals in the 11th and 27th minutes to give an early lead to Mohun Bagan in the match. Gokulam, who failed to close down Bagan’s pursuits, conceded the third goal in the 45th minute through Hugo Adnan Boumous.
Manvir Singh scored the fourth goal for Bagan in the 62nd minute to increase the lead to 4-0. The only consolation goal for Gokulam was scored by Spanish striker Sergio Mendigutxia Iglesias in the 71st minute. Kiran Nassiri Giri struck a stunner in the dying minutes for Bagan to finish the match 5-1.
Gokulam Kerala started the game and looked to curtail Bagan on the back foot. However, Bagan managed to win back possession as the match progressed and opened up Gokulam’s defence.
Bagan opened the scoring in the 6th minute through a screamer from Liston Colaco. The Kolkata side was able to take advantage of the sloppy defensive play by the Kerala side to open their account in the tournament.
The first major chance for Gokulam came in the 11th minute through a header from Spanish striker Sergio Mendigutxia Iglesias. However, the ball was sent sailing over the bar. The lack of creativity in the midfield coupled with an inability to hold on to the possession affected Gokulam’s chances to level the scoreline.
Liston Colaco struck another beauty from outside the box in the 27th minute to increase the lead for Bagan. After receiving the ball on the left wing, Liston cut inside and sent a screamer into the top right-hand corner of the box.
Bagan increased their lead to 3-0 in the 45th minute through Hugo Adnan Boumous. The French midfielder dribbled past a huge gap in Gokulam’s defence before sending the ball past keeper Shibinraj Kunniyil into the back of the net.
Gokulam started the second half eyeing to open their account in the match. However, the quality of Bagan’s attack was too much for Gokulam to find effective passes through the well-oiled Kolkata midfield.
Iglesias nearly opened the scoring for Gokulam in the 54th minute. However, his weak shot never bothered to trouble the Bagan keeper. Gokulam pushed harder to find the goal in the later stages of the game but failed to find a way through Bagan’s defence.
Manvir Singh increased the lead for Bagan in the 62nd minute following a brilliant counter-attack.
The consolation goal for Gokulam Kerala came in the 71st minute through forward Iglesias. A long ball from outside the box from a free kick found defender Bouba Aminou inside the box, who then headed the ball into the path of Iglesias to nick the ball past the Bagan keeper.
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