I-League: Christopher Chizoba’s dream debut inspires Mohun Bagan to big win
Christopher Chizoba scoring past United SC
A brace from debutante Christopher Chizoba inspired Mohun Bagan AC to a thumping 4-0 derby win over United SC in the round 13 clash of the I-League at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata on Friday evening.
Christopher scored twice in the first session while Ram Malik and Odafe Onyeka Okolie increased Mohun Bagan’s advantage in the second period with United SC goalkeeper Ishan Debnath being taken to the hospital after suffering a serious injury towards the end of the game.
The result ends Mohun Bagan’s five-match winless streak and moves them up to seventh in the table while United SC suffered their third defeat of this campaign.
It was a very even contest in the early stages with ball possession similar and hardly any clear cut chances. The first real attempt on goal came from Mohun Bagan’s Manish Bhargav, who cut in from the left flank and rattled the bar with a right-footed effort. At the other United SC’s Syrian defender Hassan Moustafa failed to hit the target despite getting a free header following an Eric Brown free-kick.
Mohun Bagan went infront in the 20th minute when Christopher was given the time and space to shoot from outside the box and the Nigerian’s shot gave Debnath no chance. It was Mohun Bagan’s first goal in four matches and made Christopher an instant hero with the Mariners faithfuls.
United SC coach Eelco Schattorie made a double change in the first half itself but his side couldn’t come back into the match and found themselves 2-0 down just before the interval. Odafe held up the ball well before playing Christopher clean through on goal and the debutant rounded Debnath before finding the back of the net.
Mohun Bagan’s new signing from Peerless SC couldn’t have wished for a better debut and things got better for the Mariners at the start of the second period as young Ram Malik netted the third. Some nice interplay between Odafe and Katsumi Yusa saw the latter set-up Malik and the youngster slotted home to virtually seal the points.
United SC pushed hard for a goal but star striker Ranti Martins Soleye had another quiet outing with midfielder Souvik Chakraborty going the closest although he failed to hit the target from promising positions.
The only thing missing from Mohun Bagan’s performance was a goal for Odafe and that also arrived in the 73rd minute when Ram Malik broke the offside trap and crossed for the club captain who headed home from close range to open his I-League account this campaign.
United SC couldn’t find a consolation goal and lost their keeper Debnath through a serious injury. Schattorie had already made three substitutions and thus Moustafa filled in at goal for the final few minutes of injury-time.
