Kolkata: Israfil Dewan struck a second-half hat-trick as three-time defending champions Mohammedan Sporting scripted a 4-1 comeback victory over Aryan Club in their CFL Premier Division match in Naihati on Monday. The win — which came after a couple of draws — kept Mohammedan Sporting’s hopes for advancing to the championship round from Group A.
It was Aryan who went into the break with a 1-0 lead, thanks to Pankaj Roy’s brilliantly-executed goal from a free-kick in the 20th minute.
The arrival of Mahitosh Roy in the second half tilted the scale in Mohammedan Sporting’s favour. Mahitosh brought home the equalizer in the 51st minute, beating goalkeeper Mainak Akuli with a left-footed curler from outside the box. Mahitosh and his teammates celebrated the goal by holding up a jersey with the words — “Justice for RG Kar” — written on it, in an extension of the Big 3 clubs’ protest against the murder of a trainee doctor at the city hospital.
Israfil then took over, first giving his team the lead in the 60th minute and then adding two more in the stoppage time (90+2 and 90+7) to complete his hat-trick.
Both Mohammedan Sporting and United SC — who shared spoils with Southern Samity 1-1 — have 18 points from 10 matches but the former have moved into the third spot in the group owing to a better goal difference.