Habibur equalises to save Bagan!

Habibur Rahman Mondal scored again today for Mohun Bagan to save the day for Bagan against Mohd. Sporting at the Salt Lake Stadium.

The Bagan team featured neither Barreto nor Bhaichung, in fact, Lalampuia was out after a double booking and the remaining forwards Branco and Ishfaq are already out with injury. Kartick Kisku and Malsauwmtulunga played upfront. On the other hand, Mohammedan came out with their full team, starring Theodore Sunday and Mike Okoro.

The match started off with Bagan initiating attacks and Mohd. Sporting playing mainly on counter attack. Jr. James squandered a sitter and Kartick Kisku was brought down in the box and the referee denied the penalty.

On the other side though, Theodore who got into a tussle with Mohunraj, dived inside the box pulling Mohunraj on top of him, and the referee, who came running from behind the centre-line pointed to the box, though the concerned lines-man didnot indicate any such. The half ended with Mohd. Sporting leading.

Barreto was introduced with the beginning of second half, and proved why he is still the best foreigner in India. From the time he came up, Mohun Bagan attack became much more effective. The entire half, Bagan continued attacks but to no avail. However, the moment came in the last minute of the match, as Lalkamal sent in a swerving free-kick and Barreto headed back towards goal, but Habibur put it in with his right footer sliding in.

After the match however, the Bagan officials have demanded an out-station referee for the Kolkata derby against East Bengal, owing to glaring poor refereeing decisions.
Bagan after 10 matches are now on 24 points with Mohd. Sporting from 11 matches are on 24 and East Bengal from 10 are on 21 points

AIFF unable to decide Dias and Pradeep's fate!

At the beginning of the season it was contended by the East Bengal officials that Steven Dias and N.P. Pradeep of Mahindra Utd. has agreed to play for East Bengal and to such effect has even signed a contract. Mahindra on the other hand argued that the duo's term of contract with Mahindra is yet to be over and so the are still Mahindra players and East Bengal cannot claim them.

The matter was however brought in front of the AIFF player status committee and they have declared that on this issue they cannot pass a verdict against any of the parties as the situation is "critical" and "unique".

They have declared that by 5th of September, East Bengal has to come into some sort of settlement with Mahindra regarding the duo, as they are still Mahindra Players, failing which, both of them will remain in Mahindra Utd.

If however, East Bengal do manage to pursue Mahindra in releasing the duo, they will certainly have to pay a pretty hefty sum of money to Mahindra as Transfer fee.

CFL in tight corner!

The CFL schedulewhich had been brought up at the beginng of the season was much criticised for such a tight schedule and now with matches being postponed for rain interruptions, it has run into the I league schedule and will most probably remain suspended till for the time being.

I league will kick off from 12th September. With the CFL scheduled to be ending somewhere in mid septembe, as of now, will remain suspended from September onwards, that is wht is most likely to happen though, nothing has been declared as of yet officially!

Railway FC hold Sporting!

Today Railway FC held Mahammedan Sporting at the Salt Lake Stadium in the 2nd leg match of the CFL 08-09. The match ended goalless with both the sides creating chances but Mahammedan Sporting coming close on more than one ocassions. Vimal Pariyar got the easiest of the chances for Sporting in the dying minutes of the match but failed to convert!
Rail and Sporting split a point each. Sporting are on 17 points from 8 matches!

East Bengal protest on 2nd leg schedule!

After IFA had announced the schedule for the 2nd leg of the CFL 2008-09, East Bengal FC voiced their protest about the schedule as their matches were scheduled before those of Mohun Bagan AC! They argued that in the 1st leg since their matches were after the matches of Mohun Bagan, in the second leg, why should that be any diferent!
The IFA has, as always, given in to East Bengal demands and changed the schedule thereto.

Mahammedan Sporting join Bagan on top!

Mohd. Sporting won their last match of the 1st of the CFL 2008-09 against Chirag Utd. held at the Salt Lake Stadium and join Mohun Bagan atop of the league table, but are lagging behind of goal difference!

Both the teams played for a win, but it was Mohd. sporting who emerged victorious by 2-0 in the end.

Mohd. opened their account through a penalty by Theodore Sunday in the 25th minute.

The second goal came in the 52nd minute again through Sunday and sealed their 16 points from 7 matches!

Theodore joined Lalwmpuia as the joint Top scorer of the CFL 08-09 with 6 goals.

Mohun Bagan win 7th CFL derby on a trot!

Bagan won their 7th CFL derby on a trot against East Bengal. Bagan needed to win this match to remain at the top of the League Table and East Bengal needed the win to stay in the race for championship.

East Bengal went one goal ahead in the 18th minute through Alvito D'cunha, but could not hold onto the slender lead as Bagan piled on some pressure in the 2nd half. Bagan young gun, Lalawpuia scored the equaliser in the 73rd minute through a header off a Lalkamal corner. Pressure mounted in the game as both teams tried to get one past the other, but Bagan in the 83rd minute went ahead, thanks to an acrobatic Lalawmpuia who scored his second to win it for Mohun Bagan seven in a row in the CFL.

Bagan move to the league top after the First Leg. Mohd. Sporting though has one last match left before end of the first leg with 3 points behing Bagan. East bengal end their 1st leg with 11 points!