Mohun Bagan start IFA Shield campaign with thumping win over Churchill Brothers

Subha Ghosh scored a hat-trick as the hosts romped to a commanding success.

Mohun Bagan started their IFA Shield group stage campaign against Churchill Brothers at the Barasat Stadium in a match played earlier today. Four goals from Subha Ghosh and stellar performances from Kaushik Santra and Sourav Das inspired the Mariners to a thumping 7-1 win over the Red Machines.

The match started with a blast as Mohun Bagan right winger Sourav Das caught the Churchill defence off guard with his lightning pace and calmly slotted the ball past the Churchill custodian, as he opened the scoring in the 5th minute. Thereafter, Bagan started dominating possession and the young Mariners were dictating terms. Churchill did have some opportunities on the counter, but nothing potent enough to break the Mariners' resilience.

The former finalists made the most of their possession as forward Subha Ghosh and Sourav Das teamed up in the 14th minute and their exceptional one-touch passing broke down the Churchill defence, as the forward was brought down illegitimately in the box by a Churchill defender. Koushik Santra handed the Mariners a comfortable two-goal cushion after converting from the spot.

The Kolkata outfit were totally controlling proceedings and the Red Machines were no match to the young hosts. But, the Goan outfit caught the Mariners' defence sleeping as Hussain Pinjar pulled one back for the visitors.

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But fate had other ideas, as both Sourav Das and Subha Ghosh were constantly threatening the Churchill defence with their blistering pace and exceptional understanding. The Mariners shone again as Koushik Santra got on the end of a defence-splitting pass and the youngster announced himself with another calm finish taking the scoreline to 3-1

The #9 was simply sensational and he seemed to be too good for his opposition, as within the next two minutes as Sourav's back heel pass was brilliantly converted by Subha , turning the match into a one-sided affair. If that wasn't enough, then Churchill conceded again right at the end of the first half, when Sourav Das' delivery from a corner found the head of Koushik Santra who calmy slotted the ball home, with the scoreline becoming more and more embarrassing for the Goan outfit.

The Red Machines did come back into the game in the second half as the Mariners took their foot off the pedal. The visitors had a great opportunity when Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Asanta Daimary came off his line to clear the ball, but it only reached a Churchill player. The lofted shot from the Goan player caught the goalkeeper out of position, but Mohun Bagan captain Krishanu Malo anticipated pretty well and cleared it off the line.

The second half was more of a cagey affair as both teams were losing possession in tandem and the Mariners were happy with what they had. After a lot of half-chances for both sides, Jopaul Anchery's boys scored another goal against the run of play, as Subha completed his hattrick as he headed the ball past the goalkeeper from Sourav's exquisite cross.

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The winger seemed to be the fulcrum of the whole Bagan side as his pace and quick feet made life difficult for the Churchill backline. Sourav who was looking for another goal to add to his tally came agonisingly close, as he struck the post, but much to his joy, teammate Subha Ghosh slotted home on the rebound, putting the final nail in Churchill's coffin.