Bagan pip Sporting 2-0

Skipper Renedy Singh and Brazilian striker Jose Barreto scored one apiece as title aspirants Mohun Bagan pipped statemates Mohammedan Sporti...

Skipper Renedy Singh and Brazilian striker Jose Barreto scored one apiece as title aspirants Mohun Bagan pipped statemates Mohammedan Sporting 2-0 in the inaugural match of 8th National Football League here today. Starting with a bang, the three-time NFL champions struck once in each half to nullify the spirited challenge posed by the Sporting youngsters, more so in the latter session of the Salt Lake Stadium exchange.

After missing out on a couple of early chances, Bagan took the lead in the 34th minute when Renedy’s long ranger from a counter-attack caught Sporting custodian Gumpe Rime unawares and bulged the net.

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Barreto, who looked a pale shadow of himself for most part of the game, showed a flash of brilliance in the 85th minute to ensure three points for his side. Bagan counter-attacked through defender Manitombi Singh, who ran down the right flank and aired a measured cross into the box and Barreto, appearing out of nowhere, pounced on the ball to shoot home past Rime.

	NFL Preview: Three loners

			Other then the big clubs from Kolkata and Goa, there are three pretenders who can spring a shock or two on their day. Mahindra United, JCT Mills and Indian Bank are the dark horses of this year’s competition. In the concluding part of the NFL preview, Shabbir Ali joins The Indian Express to look at the three teams. Story continues below this ad ON FIRE: MAHINDRA UNITED Undoubtedly the team to watch out if their recent performance is anything to go by. With four titles — Harwood League, Fed Cup, an invitational tourney in Maldivies and the Super Cup — already in their kitty, they appear confident of beating any top team. A well-balanced team, coach David Booth and ample funds are the three main factors for their success. But strangely for this Mumbai outfit the NFL has always been a nightmare and they will hope to turn things around this year. EXPERT ANALYSIS Attack: Average (Look out for Raphael Patron of Togo) MidField: Very Good (S Venkatesh, Jules Alberto, captain Khalid Jamil and James Singh) Defence: Average Goalkeeping: Solid (Kalyan Choubey is a classy campaigner) Player to Watch: Ghanaian Felix Aboagye (The striker has played in the Greek and Egyptian leagues) PREDICTED FINISH: Between 3 and 6 UPHILL TASK: INDIAN BANK No big names and no tall claims. The only advantage they have is the experience of having played the league in the past. In their three previous appearances, their best was the fifth-place finish in 1997-98. But they were relegated the following year, and it took a while before they were back in the reckoning. EXPERT ANALYSIS Attack: Average (Syed Shabir Pasha and newcomer Mahendra Mani) Mid-Field: Okay Defence: Okay Goalkeeping: Average Player to Watch: Syed Pasha (The team’s main goalscorer) Predicted Finish: Around Relegation Zone Story continues below this ad ONE-MAN ARMYy: JCT MILLS THE boys from Punjab are a gutsy lot. Nothing much to boast about this season, but have traditionally been very difficult to beat at home. With IM Vijayan ‘retired’ from international duty, he can now concentrate on his club duty full time. But age and injuries are against him. Rediscovering the form that took them to the inaugural NFLtitle in 1997 will be a tough ask. EXPERT ANALYSIS Attack: One man (IM Vijayan) MidField: Average Defence: Average (Jo Paul Ancheri’s fitness is a major concern) Goalkeeping: Fair (Mohammed Mansuru of Ghana has been impressive) Player to Watch: Vijayan (If he can show his Afro-Asian Games form) Predicted Finish: Between 6 and 9 — *Micky Aigner*