The Mariners are back on the hunt to add another silverware to their glory. They have just bulldozed the resistance of Khalid Jamil’s Jamshedpur FC by a margin of 3-0 to secure the second spot in the Indian Super League table with one game in hand. They are now in a position where no one can surpass them if they could manage to secure victories in rest of the matches. It was another tactical masterclass from Antonio Lopez Habas and little bit of tactical blunder from Khalid Jamil. In absence of Sahal, Joni Kauko played in a more advance role and with double pivot in the midfield likes of Dipak Tangri and Avishek at his back, Kauko did dictate the terms in and around the box.
Mohun Bagan started the game with very high tempo and put Manvir and Liston two best wingers in the wings, Jamshedpur looked clueless in their defensive transition. It was a masterplan to play Kauko in more advance position. Because, Jamshedpur fielded a all Indian back line and their fullbacks Muirang and Lakra have no match to the raw pace of Manvir and Liston.
Jamshedpur’s star midfielder Manzorro spent maximum time in his own half rather than in attacking third and their midfield blocker Elsinho moved wide to support their fullbacks at the wings. This allow Kauko and Petratos constantly switching position and meet the cut backs from Manvir where no Jamshedpur players are able to track them because their whole midfield was stretch from the very first minute. Mohun Bagan open their account as early as 7th minute of the game when a Joni Kauko through ball was gratefully accepted by Manvir on the right hand side of the box and Petratos was ready when Manvir cutback the cross from there.
Dimi’s first time grounder went passed Rehnesh to the far post and into the net. After the goal the Dimi God bring back the famous Sten Gun celebration of talisman Sony Norde to greet the fans. Thereafter, on 15th minute Petratos delivered a pin point 35 yards pass from centre circle to Liston Colaco who waiting on the age of the touchline. Liston’s brilliant first touch completely outfoxed Lakra and went into the box and took a grounder at the near post. This time he was denied by a brilliant save from T.P. Rehnesh. Jamshedpur slowly gaining control of the match from 20th minute and their best chance came on 35th minute when a quick one touch from Siverio met by Daniel Chima Chukwu on top of the box but his attempt was denied by acrobatic Vishal. This is the only occasion where Mohun Bagan defense was flat footed.
Before that on 20th Minute a 25 yard shot from Imran was also saved by Vishal Kaith. Jamshedpur brought their substitution as early as 39th minute of the game and replace Siverio Toro who didn’t have a good game with Rei Tachikawa and a forced replacement of inured Muirang in left back position with Ricky. Jamshedpur did manage to hold on some pressure on Mohun Bagan after the break but they had no answer to the sheer determination of Mohun Bagan defense line. Because of that they have tried few long ranger vide Ricky, Sanan and Manzorro but all their effort went out of the target. On 50th Minute a brilliant 40 yards pass from Subhasish was met by unmarked Cummings but he wrongly judged offside as replay showed he was well onside when the pass was made. This incident denied Mohun Bagan a genuine goal scoring opportunity because when Cumming entered the 18 yards area no one except Jamshedpur Goalkeeper Rehnesh around him in the box.
Mohun Bagan did increase the lead on 68th minute with a brilliant move, probably the best move of the match when a quick exchange between Kauko and Manvir open the space for Jason Cummings and when Manvir pin point through was accepted by Cummings scoring was the easiest option than to miss. Dipak Tangri was suffered an injury as well as a wrongly judged cautioned on 53rd minute and eventually was replaced by Anirudh Thapa. He will going to miss the next match which is the all important Kolkata Derby and it was necessary to gave Thapa a good amount of gametime. With 2 goal lead Habas deviated his own old school philosophy and bring another striker Sadiku in place of Kauko. Petratos was adjusted to the attacking midfielder role and Sadiku and Cummings were attacking upfront. The opportunity was thankfully accepted by Sadiku when he scored the third goal of the match on 80th minute. The move was generated inside the Mohun Bagan half when Manvir intercepted and forwarded the ball to Petratos. Manvir then made a 50 yard sprint to enter the Jamshedpur box from their own half, Petratos was waiting for Manvir to arrive and then from another Manvir Singh cut back Sadiku increase the lead.
Soon after the goal, Mohun Bagan replaced Dimi and Cummings and played with only 2 foreigner on the pitch for 12 minutes of the game.
Now here is the clarification, why we termed this match as a Habas master-class. We break the news on Thursday that Sahal had a injury and would not be a part of this game. We all know that Jamshedpur played two Indian Central Defenders along with Elsinho as a defensive blocker in the midfield. Now Habas had an option to play Thapa inplace of Sahal and play Kauko and Tangri as the pivotal role in midfield. Instead he chose to play Avishek along side Tangri who had a brilliant game apart from few fumbles and put Kauko in more advanced position in the midfield. The triple threat of Dimi, Cummings and Kauko alongwith the pace of Manvir and Liston in the wings completely rattled the Jamshedpur thought process. Their midfield blockers are on the wings to support their full backs and their attacking midfielders are into their own half trying to close the gap of their midfield. For that reason Chima and Toro was left alone in the upfront and easily dealt by the Mohun Bagan backline. It was a horrible decision taken by Khalid Jamil to left his defense opened for a attackline, registered highest number of goals in this year ISL. Manvir Singh rightly judged player of the match. He was not only the man behind all 3 goals but he also gave the energetic support to their defense whenever Jamshedpur tried to stretch the wings both in right and left side of the pitch.
Mohun Bagan currently sitting on 2nd position of the points table with 33 points from 16 matches only behind Odisha who got 35 points from 17 matches. Now in this position, Mohun Bagan with one game advantage over Odisha have only themselves to blame if they couldn’t manage to clinch the ISL league shield in this year.
