Mohun Bagan Super Giant, under the guidance of Spanish head coach Jose Molina, unleashed their attacking prowess in their second outing of the 133rd Durand Cup, crushing the Indian Air Force team by a resounding 6-0 margin at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. This emphatic victory propelled Mohun Bagan to the top of Group A standings, surpassing their arch-rivals Emami East Bengal.
The match marked the first time in the new season that Mohun Bagan fielded a significant portion of its first team. Australian forward Jason Cummings emerged as the star of the show, netting a brace in the 4th and 76th minutes. The other goals came from Anirudh Thapa (65′), Liston Colaco (38′), Tom Aldred (10′), and Greg Stewart (90+1′).
Mohun Bagan’s dominance was evident from the outset, as they controlled possession and created numerous scoring opportunities. Cummings opened the scoring early on, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the Air Force. Aldred doubled the lead with a powerful header from a corner kick. Colaco extended the advantage before halftime with a clinical finish.
In the second half, Mohun Bagan continued to press forward, with Thapa adding to the tally with a well-taken goal. Cummings sealed the victory with his second strike, while Stewart put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.
The result sets up an intriguing clash between Mohun Bagan and Emami East Bengal on August 18, which will determine the final group positions and the candidate for the quarterfinals.
