Starting XI-

Bengaluru FC travelled to Siliguri to face Mohun Bagan on Saturday, after clinching the title last weekend against Salgaocar. Both teams made a host of changes to their side, with Bagan making 5 and Bengaluru as many as 7 from the teams that took the pitch last weekend.

Glen and Norde continued to give the Bengaluru defenders a hard time for the first 15 minutes of the game.In the 20th minute, Yusa Katsumi found Glen but the 34-year old’s shot was straight at the goalkeeper, who palmed it away to safety. But there was no safety a minute later as Sony Norde danced his way past half the Bengaluru defence to lay the ball up for Katsumi, whose pull back was met by the galloping Lenny Rodrigues to make it 2-0 for Bagan. And it got worse for the champions.

Yusa Katsumi’s pinpoint freekick was finished by Luciano in the 23rd minute with a header as Bagan made a mockery of the newly crowned champions. There was no love lost between the two sides, who have won the last 3 I-league titles among themselves, and Bagan continued to pile on the misery for Bengaluru. Raju’s cross from the right that was destined for Cornell Glen was missed by the striker and Azharuddin reaped the reward at the far post to head home Bagan’s fourth to put the home side 4-0 ahead even before the 30th minute.

The second half was more of the same with Bagan dominating proceedings and Norde, in particular, being the architect of Bagan’s play. Keegan Pereira further added to Bengaluru’s woes with a red card only 6 minutes after the restart for a foul on Glen. Bengaluru feared the worst. And with an hour played, the Haitian Norde again danced past 3 Bengaluru defenders to set up Lenny but the latter couldn’t control the ball well and the chance was lost. After spurning a few guilt-edged chances, Cornell Glen finally had his brace in the 66th minute with yet another header. Clearly the defending manual was thrown out of the window post the title win. Bagan were denied a sixth goal in the 70th minute when substitute Jeje found the net but the linesman had his flag raised for offside.

By the time the final whistle was blown, there was a sense of what-could-have-been for Bagan, as they finished second after leading the title race for most of the year.

Elsewhere in Goa, Sporting beat Salgaocar 3-0 with goals from Pratesh Shirodkar, Victorino Fernandes, and Sumit Passi. Shirodkar opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute with a 25-yard stunner to give Sporting the lead. Sporting continued their dominance and after some glorious play by Nicholas and Rowlin Borges, Passi tapped in one of the easiest goals to score. Victorino completed the scoring late in the game, with a beautifully curled left-footer.