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The task was cut out. Mohammedan Sporting needed to score seven goals in their last two matches of the CFL Premier Division if they aspire to finish with the title, pipping Mohun Bagan.
Well, the black-and-white brigade seems to be going on the right track so far, halfway through. They scored a convincing 4-1 victory over Calcutta Port Trust (CPT) today at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan, and are very much within sniffing distance of the title.
Mohammedan Sporting’s fate now hangs largely on the upcoming East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby clash this week. If league leaders Bagan happen to lose in that match, then Md Sporting would need a 4-goal win in their concluding clash against Chirag United SC to bag the title. As for Bagan, Barreto & Co need just a draw against East Bengal to ensure their Premier Division title.
Expectedly, Mohun Bagan club secretary Anjan Mitra has already raised the pitch, claiming that today’s high-scoring match was fixed, and that efforts are being made to make sure Mohammedan Sporting leapfrogs Bagan to clinch the title.
In today’s key match, CPT goalkeeper Subhash Sinha Roy’s poor showing literally helped Mohammedan Sporting on way to a massive victory. Roy conceded 3 of the 4 goals in such inexcusable manner that CPT coach Biswajit Bhattacharya was forced to replace him with Shibram Dey after the first half.
Mohammedan Sporting’s goal-machine this season, Theodore Sunday, took his tally to 9 goals, the highest so far in the Premier Division. It was Sunday who opened the day’s scoring, and as early as into the very first minute — thanks to a careless Roy under the bar. Mike Okoro doubled the scoring in the 31st minute off a Farukh Hyder cross. And again, Roy wasn’t in any position to effect a save.
Then came Jyothi Kumar’s goal, in the 44th minute. Expectedly, it was a gift from Roy who first foiled Mike Okoro but then sent the ball straight to Jyothi.
An even more spirited Mohammedan Sporting got a few more chances into the second half, but the more responsible Shibram stood like a wall. Okoro broke the hiatus, scoring a foal in the 84th minute to make it 4-1, just 10 minutes after CPT’s Ayen Daniel scored his side’s only goal.
As the result muted premature celebrations in the Mohun Bagan camp, the club’s secretary Mitra cried foul. “This match was fixed. Had this match not been fixed, then CPT would have fielded their experienced goalie (Shibram) right from the beginning. It was clear from the attitude of the other goalie (Subhash), who conceded 3 goals, that what he did was quite intentional,” a visibly upset Mitra told reporters shortly after Md Sporting defeated CPT today.
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