Kolkata: In a major boost before the Kolkata Derby, Mohun Bagan Super Giant thrashed Indian Air Force FT 6-0 to go on top of Group ‘A’ in Durand Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Thursday. While both Bagan and their arch-rivals East Bengal FC have the same number of points (six), the former took the pole position by virtue of a better goal difference.It will thus boil down to the upcoming derby clash on August 18 to decide which team will end up as the group toppers and progress to the knockout stage. However, with Thursday’s big victory, Bagan will hold the edge as a draw will see them making the quarters.
It was one-way traffic as Bagan’s Jason Cummings scored a brace — one in each half — and Thomas Aldred, Greg Stewart, Anirudh Thapa and Liston Colaco netted the other goals for the Kolkata giants.
Head coach Jose Molina returned to the sideline as Bagan fielded their star players for the game with only Suhail Bhatt, Thomas Aldred and Abhishek Suryavanshi keeping their place from the last game.
Bagan meant business right from the word go as they went ahead in the fourth minute. Sahal Abdul Samad put Cummings through inside the box and the Aussie striker put it past the rival goalkeeper easily. Aldred doubled the lead within six minutes. Suhail Bhatt’s header from a Liston Colaco free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Subhajit Basu, but the rebound fell in the path of Aldred who smashed the ball in. Liston, who created pressure on Air Force defence, finally found the net in the 38th minute from a Sahal pass as Bagan went into the half-time with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
The green-and-maroon increased the lead through Anirudh Thapa in the 65th minute when the substitute hit a first-time volley from the edge of the box. Cummings completed his brace with a left-footed finish to score the fifth goal for his side.
New-signing Greg Stewart got on the scoresheet when he found the net with a clever finish after being set up by Cummings in the added-on time.
In another match of the day, 10-man FC Goa went on top of group ‘F’ with a 2-1 win against Tribhuvan Army FC in Shillong.