Team effort sees Mohun Bagan through

It was a very physical game and tested the endurance level of the players severely. The hosts were down to 10 men after Peter Odafe received the second yellow in the 43rd minute. He got the first booking in the 12th minute when he tackled Amandeep Singh from behind. The red card, for a challenge on Jagpreet Singh, was a bit harsh though.

Bagan, however, didn8217;t let that affect their game. Rakesh Mashi adjusted very well in central defence, Isfaq Ahmed and James Singh consistently came to support two sidebacks Habibur Rahman and Deepak Mondal, Jose Barreto took enormous workload to keep the upfront and midfield mobile and skipper Baichung Bhutia sacrificed his natural game to negate the numerical disadvantage. It was a team game at its best. Ahmed, however, was adjudged Man of the Match.

The young attacking-medio from Kashmir, who is all set to get an India call-up for the upcoming Hong Kong tour, has been very consistent of late. The goal that he scored to open the account for Bagan in the 14th minute epitomised his commitment level. James sent a cross from the right flank and Ahmed timed his run perfectly to evade the off-side trap. JCT custodian Karanjit Singh was a little late to react but Amandeep was closing in on Ahmed very fast. It was a 50-50 ball and there was a collision between the two. Ahmed, however, was the first to get there and headed home.

The second goal came in the 30th minute when Barreto was pushed inside the box by Julius Akpele. The penalty was a bit controversial and according to JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh, changed the game as Barreto kept his cool to convert from the spot.

JCT had their moments. In the 18th minute, Eduardo8217;s shot from inside the box came off the post. The Brazilian was in the thick of things once again in the 44th as he tested Bagan goalie Sangram Mukherjee with a 40-yard freekick. Then in the 59th minute, Sakhtar Singh had a clear sight of the goal when Mukherjee partly saved a Balwant Singh shot in a one-to-one situation and the ball fell nicely for Sakhtar. The latter wasted the chance, hitting over the crossbar.

But on the night, Bagan were the superior side. They made a slow start to their campaign but now have made it 1-2-3, winning over the last season8217;s champions Dempo, runners-up Churchill Brothers and third-placed JCT. With 12 points from 8 matches, they are currently placed fifth in the league standings. JCT, on the other hand, dropped to eighth position with 9 points.