Kolkata, Aug 10: Mohun Bagan Super Giant produced a dominant display to storm into the quarter-finals of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup with a 6-0 victory over CISF Protectors at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Monday.
Sahal Abdul Samad was the star of the show, scoring a first-half hat-trick as the Mariners completed a perfect Group A campaign with three wins from three matches and finished top of the group.
Manvir Singh, Jamie Maclaren and Tekcham Abhishek Singh were also on the scoresheet for Mohun Bagan.
CISF Protectors managed to hold off the early pressure, with captain Mohammad Khalid leading the defence. However, the Mariners eventually broke the deadlock in the 17th minute.
Dejan Dražić played a defence-splitting pass from inside his own half to release Tekcham Abhishek Singh on the right. His effort took a deflection and fell to Liston Colaco, who squared the ball for Sahal to finish.
Sahal doubled the advantage just two minutes later. Manvir Singh found Dražić on the right with a well-weighted pass, and the Serbian midfielder delivered a low cross for Sahal to tap home his second.
Mohun Bagan continued to dominate and made it 3-0 in the 24th minute. Tekcham delivered a cross from the right, which Manvir controlled before calmly finding the back of the net.
Sahal completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute with the goal of the game. Collecting the ball near the halfway line, he drove forward, evaded several defenders and finished calmly with his right foot to give Mohun Bagan a 4-0 lead.
The Mariners went into the break firmly in control after enjoying 75 per cent possession, while CISF managed just one off-target attempt in the opening half.
Mohun Bagan made four changes at half-time, bringing on Asish Rai, Alex Saji, Kiyan Nassiri Giri and Abhishek Dhananjay Suryavanshi.
The changes did little to slow the Mariners, who continued to create chances. Manvir came close to adding another, while Liston Colaco also saw an effort blocked.
The fifth goal arrived in the 68th minute when Sahal produced another moment of brilliance. His clever no-look through ball released substitute Jamie Maclaren, who calmly finished through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Tekcham Abhishek Singh then completed the rout five minutes later. After combining with Liston Colaco, he made a well-timed run into the box and finished precisely into the roof of the net.
CISF attempted to find a consolation goal late in the game but could not beat the Mohun Bagan defence. Gurpal Singh came closest in stoppage time, forcing goalkeeper Syed Zahid Hussain into a fine save.
The result gives Mohun Bagan a maximum nine points from three matches and confirms them as Group A winners. CISF Protectors, meanwhile, finish their campaign without a point.
