Bagan’s derby hero Dicka says could have won 8-0
KOLKATA: The journey from derision to delight took Dipanda Dicka 55 seconds. His second goal came in the 34th minute and was even more sumptuous. The Mohun Bagan fans who would taunt him even at training will now worship the ground he walks on; one of them kissed Dicka’s feet at the media conference area.
The I-league may still be a bridge too far but after outmanoeuvering their biggest opponents on Sunday, Mohun Bagan may have jeopardised East Bengal bid to win it for the first time.
Mohun Bagan won 2-0 to move to fourth on 16 points from 10 games. But the ‘derby double’ could have come in a goal rush. Nikhil Kadam hit the upright in second-half stoppage time and hurried his shot in the 45th after being put in the clear by Dicka. With little luck Akram Moghrabi, Cameron Watson and Sheikh Faiaz too could have scored. “I think we could have won 8-0,” said Dicka after dedicating his goals to the injured Sony Norde.
From the time Dicka struck, after Moghrabi laid down Kadam’s delivery, East Bengal looked like they were caught in a hurricane.
The early goal, the coaches agreed, was the turning point but chasing the game without Mah- moud Al Amna, who limped off after a tackle from Raynier Fernandes that started the move for the first goal inside Mohun Bagan’s half, was a double whammy East Bengal couldn’t cope with.
Dicka’s second scored with a spectacular volley facing his own goal was the sucker-punch. It came off Fernandes’ corner-kick which swerved away from Mondal and the 28-year-old connected perfectly to take pole position in the race for the golden boot with seven goals. “It was the best goal of my career,” said Dicka.
The goals buttressed a welldrilled team game that made Mohun Bagan’s ordinary run seem like a bad dream. They dominated in every area of the pitch and looked more threatening during set-pieces. East Bengal’s only chance came in the 88th minute through a Dudu Omagbemi header.
ARROWS FACE STERN CHURCHILL TEST
AGENCIES ADD FROM VASCO : A stern test awaits young Indian Arrows when they take on a resurgent Churchill Brothers on Monday.
Churchill Brothers, who are lying ninth in the 10-team event, made a host of changes in the new year romping in four foreigners in a bid to rekindle their struggling form.
A win on Sunday will ensure Churchill remain above relegation zone and also above Indian Arrows in the seventh place.