Now Reading: Sahal hat-trick fires Mohun Bagan into Durand Cup quarters
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Sahal hat-trick fires Mohun Bagan into Durand Cup quarters
Mohun Bagan Super Giant thrashed CISF Protectors 6-0 in a Group A match on Monday to seal a quarterfinal berth in the Durand Cup. Sahal Abdul Samad scored a first-half hat-trick at…
The Story in Brief
Mohun Bagan Super Giant thrashed CISF Protectors 6-0 in a Group A match on Monday to seal a quarterfinal berth in the Durand Cup. Sahal Abdul Samad scored a first-half hat-trick at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, with Manvir Singh, Jamie Maclaren and Tekcham Abhishek Singh also on the scoresheet. Bagan topped the group with nine points from three matches.
In Ranchi, SC Delhi thrashed Indian Air Force FT 7-1 to finish as Group C winners with a perfect record of three wins. Juan Sebastian Pena scored twice while Rodriguinho, Duvan Mina, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Clarence Savio Fernandes and Richard Ndayishimiye also found the net. Indian Air Force remain third in the group with three points from two matches.
The Indian Opinion
Another 6-0 win, another hat-trick, the narrative that the Durand Cup is a mismatch between ISL giants and overmatched opponents is easy to write. But the scoreline hides evidence that CISF Protectors, led by captain Mohammad Khalid, held firm for 17 minutes and forced Bagan to produce quality moves. The test for Dilimperis' side is not group-stage romps but knockout games against teams with equal resources. Will Sahal's form translate when defenders sit deep and physicality rises? That answer decides Bagan's trophy chances.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
