GANGTOK, May 12: Mohun Bagan registered a comfortable 3-0 victory over United Sikkim Football Club, on Sunday (May 12), at Paljor Stadium to end their eventful campaign on a high. The goals came from Nirmal Chettri, Odafa Okolie and substitute Tolgay Ozbey – one in the first half and two in the second.
The victory against United Sikkim on the last day of the season was indeed a sweet one for Karim Bencherifa. He had arrived in Gangtok last October (6th October) on the opening I-League match with Salgaocar but lost the match 2-3 against the team from Sikkim.
“Salgaocar played well that day but lost. It did hurt as it was on the first day of the season. This time, my team (Mohun Bagan) played well, controlled the match and won. It is a nice feeling for me”, said Bencherifa after the match.
Ironically, a lad from Sikkim, Nirmal Chettri gave Mohun Bagan an early lead in the 9th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the box. The ball crashed into the bar on its way to goal beyond a diving United Sikkim goalkeeper Rakshit Kumar.
United Sikkim’s defender Nim Tshering Lepcha nearly gave a similar response five minutes later but was denied twice by the post. His well-placed shot from outside the box sailed over Mohan Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul but the ball first hit the horizontal bar and then the rebounded from side post.
In the second half, United Sikkim created a couple of chances but could not apply the finishing touches. Mohun Bagan players were happy to protect the lead and was gifted the second goal in the 71st minute when the United Sikkim committed a foul in their own box. Odafa Okolie calmly converted the penalty making it 2-0.
Tolgay Ozbey, who came as a substitute late in the second half, scored the third goal with a beautiful chip over the United Sikkim goalkeeper in the 88th minute.
Bencherifa pointed out that his players did not play their best football attributing it to mental fatigue among the players considering it was the last game of the season. He said the season for him as a Mohun Bagan coach was a difficult but successful challenge.
“When we started off with zero point (after being reinstated in I-League), the second last team in the table had 14 points. We needed to collect points fast which we did and we were the best team in the second round of I-League”, he said.
On the other hand, United Sikkim has been relegated from I-League in their debut season. “All I can say is that there have been improvements in the team but we lacked quality to finish the chances that came along our way. I am proud of the efforts made by the players”, said coach Nathan Hall.
United Sikkim won only two matches, drew nine matches and lost 15 matches to finish last with only 15 points.
The victory against United Sikkim on the last day of the season was indeed a sweet one for Karim Bencherifa. He had arrived in Gangtok last October (6th October) on the opening I-League match with Salgaocar but lost the match 2-3 against the team from Sikkim.
“Salgaocar played well that day but lost. It did hurt as it was on the first day of the season. This time, my team (Mohun Bagan) played well, controlled the match and won. It is a nice feeling for me”, said Bencherifa after the match.
Ironically, a lad from Sikkim, Nirmal Chettri gave Mohun Bagan an early lead in the 9th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the box. The ball crashed into the bar on its way to goal beyond a diving United Sikkim goalkeeper Rakshit Kumar.
United Sikkim’s defender Nim Tshering Lepcha nearly gave a similar response five minutes later but was denied twice by the post. His well-placed shot from outside the box sailed over Mohan Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul but the ball first hit the horizontal bar and then the rebounded from side post.
In the second half, United Sikkim created a couple of chances but could not apply the finishing touches. Mohun Bagan players were happy to protect the lead and was gifted the second goal in the 71st minute when the United Sikkim committed a foul in their own box. Odafa Okolie calmly converted the penalty making it 2-0.
Tolgay Ozbey, who came as a substitute late in the second half, scored the third goal with a beautiful chip over the United Sikkim goalkeeper in the 88th minute.
Bencherifa pointed out that his players did not play their best football attributing it to mental fatigue among the players considering it was the last game of the season. He said the season for him as a Mohun Bagan coach was a difficult but successful challenge.
“When we started off with zero point (after being reinstated in I-League), the second last team in the table had 14 points. We needed to collect points fast which we did and we were the best team in the second round of I-League”, he said.
On the other hand, United Sikkim has been relegated from I-League in their debut season. “All I can say is that there have been improvements in the team but we lacked quality to finish the chances that came along our way. I am proud of the efforts made by the players”, said coach Nathan Hall.
United Sikkim won only two matches, drew nine matches and lost 15 matches to finish last with only 15 points.
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