Jason Cummings found the net in the 87th minute to help Mohun Bagan clinch their first win of this Indian Super League season as the Mariners beat NorthEast United 3-2 on Monday at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. (Highlights | More Football News)
Mariners got behind twice but managed to equalise two times before Cummings found winner late in the game to help Mohun Bagan get three points from the match where they trailed for the most part.
The Highlanders had beaten Mohun Bagan in the final of this year's Durand Cup last month at the same stadium and the confidence of that win showed yet again as they silenced the crowd with a fifth-minute strike. Mohammed Bemammer found the net early through a brilliant pass from Alaeddine Ajaraie.
Ajaraie placed his pass perfectly to Bemammer who struck a brilliant right-footer from outside the box to hand NorthEast United the lead.
However, the scores were levelled within five minutes as Dippendu Biswas rose up unmarked on a free kick to head a loopy ball from inside the box into the NorthEast United goalpost.
A goal on the counter-attack in the 24th minute put NorthEast United ahead yet again. The Mariners were focussing on the attack when Jithin Madathil Subran got the ball in his box and passed it on to Ajaraie who passed it back to Jithin after a short run. Jithin then entered the box and found Ajaraie on the left side of the box whose left-footer gave the Highlanders lead yet again. The scoreline remained 2-1 at the half-time even as Mohun Bagan made some impressive attacks late in the first half.
The second half saw Mohun Bagan equalise in the 61st minute courtesy a clearance mistake from NorthEast United goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh who could not collect the ball cleanly. Shubashish Roy found himself at the right spot to push the ball into the goal and the score were level yet again even as NorthEast United appealed for a foul on their goalkeeper.
Cummings, who was brought on the field just minutes before Roy's equaliser, netted the winner in the 87th minute. Sahal's pass found an umarked Cummings right in the centre of the box in a great position to score. Cummings fired the goal with ease and despite a stiff resistance from NorthEast United, it was Mohun Bagan who went home with a win.
With the win, Mohun Bagan rose up to the fourth position in the ISL table while NorthEast United who now have a win and a loss are at the seventh spot.
