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Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant started their title defence with a hard-fought solitary goal win over Downtown Heroes FC in the opening game of the 133rd Indian Oil Durand Cup which was played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharti Krirangan. Suhail Bhat scored the goal for the Mariners.
Durand Cup 2024: What happened in the game?
Mohun Bagan Super Giant Assistant Coach Bastab Roy named a starting eleven with a mix of first-team players and the reserves. Downtown Heroes FC Head Coach Hilal Rasool Parray named his strongest lineup with French defender Redah Atassi leading the team and Liberian attacker Darius Snorton Perwood leading the forward line.
The team from Kashmir started brightly in attack with Mohammad Inam testing Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Syed Hussain Bukhari inside ten minutes with a shot on target. They were taking advantage of 'The Mariners’ mistakes and lack of coordination in creating better openings, but they failed to convert those chances with the final touch missing in front of the goal.
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Aafreen Parray was brilliant down the left flank, troubling the Mohun Bagan defence but lacked the finishing to open the scoring for his side. The best chance of the half fell for Downtown Heroes’ Liberian striker Darius Snorton who foxed Raj Basfore inside the box and with only the keeper to beat, he lashed his shot wide of the post. ‘The Mariners’ could not test the Downtown Heroes' defence in any way with Taison Singh’s effort which hit the crossbar, being the only meaningful attacking moment for the Kolkata giants.
The Mariners improved a lot in the second half
Mohun Bagan started the second half better keeping the ball and looking promising. Even though the Kolkata side managed their first shot on target in the 60th minute, they were moving the ball forward with much more intent. The Mariners broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute through a wonderful team move.
3 points to kick off the campaign! Joy Mohun Bagan! 💚♥️#MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন #IndianOilDurandCup2024 pic.twitter.com/TrQ1lE4QIg
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) July 27, 2024
Taison slipped a ball through for the overlapping Asish Rai and the right back found Suhail Bhat free inside the six-yard box and Suhail Bhat slotted the ball inside an empty net to give his team the lead. Downtown Heroes tried to put pressure after conceding but could not break the defence of Mohun Bagan who kept it tight at the back and managed the rest of the game well including the eight minutes of injury time.