Mohun Bagan thrash CISF Protectors 6-0 to top Durand Cup Group A

Hyderabad: Mohun Bagan Super Giant sealed top spot in Group A and booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup with a commanding 6-0 victory over CISF Protectors at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Monday.

Sahal Abdul Samad stole the limelight with a scintillating first-half hat-trick, while Manvir Singh, Jamie Maclaren and Tekcham Abhishek Singh also found the scoresheet as the Mariners completed a perfect group-stage campaign with three wins from three matches.

Already on six points from their opening two matches, Panagiotis Dilimperis’ side entered the contest with a quarterfinal spot confirmed, while CISF Protectors were looking to end their campaign on a positive note after back-to-back defeats.

Subhasish Bose tested the goalkeeper with a low long-range effort in the ninth minute, but the Mariners’ relentless pressure eventually paid dividends in the 17th minute. Dejan Dražić produced a superb defence-splitting pass from inside his own half to release Tekcham Abhishek Singh on the right. His shot took a deflection into the path of Liston Colaco, who unselfishly squared the ball for Sahal Abdul Samad to apply the finishing touch.

Two minutes later, the Mariners doubled their lead with another slick attacking move. This time Manvir Singh threaded a delightful pass into the path of Dražić on the right, and the Serbian calmly squared the ball across for Sahal to tap home his second goal in as many minutes.

Mohun Bagan continued to carve open the CISF defence, with Manvir first firing straight at the goalkeeper before making amends in the 24th minute. Tekcham Abhishek Singh whipped in an inviting cross from the right and the striker controlled brilliantly before finishing confidently to make it 3-0.

Sahal then completed a memorable first-half hat-trick in spectacular fashion in the 37th minute.

The fifth goal finally arrived in the 68th minute through another moment of brilliance from Sahal. The midfielder produced a sublime no-look through ball that released substitute Jamie Maclaren, who opened up his body before calmly slotting his finish through the legs of the goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, Mohun Bagan added a sixth. Liston Colaco combined neatly with Tekcham Abhishek Singh, whose perfectly timed run into the penalty area ended with a precise finish into the roof of the net.