Mohun Bagan Storm Past Diamond Harbour in One-Sided Derby, Seal Quarterfinal Spot
- Pixel Sports Football Desk
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
A new derby on the horizon quickly turned into a Mariners’ masterclass. Under the lights at the Salt Lake Stadium, Mohun Bagan Super Giant dismantled debutants Diamond Harbour FC 5-1 to cruise into the Durand Cup quarterfinals as Group B toppers.
Anirudh Thapa lit the fuse in the 19th minute with a curling beauty into the top corner. Luka Majcen briefly brought Diamond Harbour level five minutes later, capitalising on a defensive mix-up. But that parity didn’t last. A poor clearance from the DHFC goalkeeper was punished ruthlessly by Jamie Maclaren in the 35th minute, restoring Bagan’s lead before the break.
The second half saw the Mariners shift into overdrive. Liston Colaco earned and converted a penalty early on after being brought down by Naresh Singh Yendrembam who saw red in the process. Down to ten men, Diamond Harbour were overrun. Sahal Abdul Samad made it four in the 64th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the box with trademark composure. Jason Cummings then put the icing on the cake in the 80th, finishing a sweeping move with precision.
Bagan’s midfield, marshalled by Thapa and Sahal, dictated every tempo shift, while the attack moved with fluidity that left their rivals chasing shadows. The Mariners never looked troubled after the third goal, keeping possession and controlling the pace to see out a convincing victory.
Diamond Harbour now face an anxious wait, hoping to qualify as one of the best second-placed teams. Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, march into the knockouts brimming with confidence, their attacking firepower firing on all cylinders at just the right time.
